ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers are increasingly investing in higher-cost trips this year, signaling growing interest in luxury and bucket-list travel. Trips insured for $30,000 or more increased 27.2% in Q3 2026 versus the same period last year, according to new data from Squaremouth, a leading travel insurance marketplace.

This increase is more than twice the 12.9% growth overall in insured trips during the same period. Meanwhile, trips insured for under $10,000 declined 2.3%, according to Squaremouth's Q3 2026 Travel Insurance Trends Report.

However, this finding isn't surprising. In April, Squaremouth surveyed over 3,000 travelers about their anticipated travel spending for 2026 and found that 23% planned to spend more on premium or bucket-list trips. By Q3, those plans began showing up in Squaremouth's booking data.

Safari Travel Shows the Scale of Bucket-List Trips

Safari travel clearly illustrates that shift. Q3 is the peak booking window for luxury safaris, and the most popular destinations saw strong growth:

- Rwanda: Up 33.3%, with an average trip cost of $37,005

- South Africa: Up 23.4%, with an average trip cost of $25,198

- Kenya: Up 17.6%, with an average trip cost of $24,156

Higher-Cost Trips Pose Bigger Financial Risks

The more travelers invest in a trip, the more they could lose. With tens of thousands of dollars in trip costs, a cancellation or medical emergency can quickly lead to a significant financial loss.

Squaremouth experts recommend that high-cost travelers purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy with:

- Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption: protects prepaid, nonrefundable expenses for safari packages, luxury cruises, lodging, and excursions if they must cancel or cut their trip short for a covered reason.

- Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation: covers eligible medical expenses and emergency transportation to appropriate care, especially important for remote safaris or expedition cruises to destinations like Antarctica.

- Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) and Interruption For Any Reason (IFAR): for maximum flexibility to cancel or shorten their trip for any reason. These benefits can reimburse up to 75% of covered trip costs.

- Travel Delay and Missed Connection: covers additional unexpected expenses when disruptions impact connecting flights, cruise departures, or transfers to remote destinations.

"When a single safari vacation can cost nearly $40,000, there's a lot at stake financially, but the risk doesn't end there," Chrissy Valdez, Senior Director of Operations at Squaremouth. "Safaris, expedition cruises, and remote islands often take travelers far from adequate medical care. If something happens, strong emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage ensures they aren't incurring additional expenses to get the care they need."

For more insights on luxury travel trends, connect with our team, or see the best travel insurance plans for luxury travel in 2026.

About Squaremouth

For over 20 years, Squaremouth has helped more than 4.4 million travelers quote, compare, and purchase travel insurance online. Renowned for award-winning customer service, transparency, and an unbiased approach, Squaremouth has led travel insurance comparison since 2003. As America's largest travel insurance marketplace, Squaremouth.com features more providers and plans than any other platform.

Contact

Lauren McCormick

Manager of Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Squaremouth

Share this article

- Large-Scale Quantum Emulation: MIMIQ⢠enables simulation of circuits with thousands of qubits and millions of gates, for circuits whose structure is suited to Matrix Product State (MPS) techniques.

- Expanding Developer Access: The integration makes MIMIQ available through qBraid's managed API, bringing its quantum emulation capabilities to qBraid's community of more than 35,000 developers.

- Advancing Quantum Software Development: Developers can validate algorithms, benchmark and optimize quantum hardware performance and error-correction protocols, and explore circuits beyond the practical limits of conventional exact simulation.

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BTQ Technologies Corp. (the "Company" or "BTQ") (Nasdaq: BTQ) (Cboe CA: BTQ), a quantum technology company focused on accelerating the transition from classical networks to the quantum internet, today announced that MIMIQâ¢, its large-scale quantum emulator developed by wholly owned subsidiary QPerfect, is now available to users of qBraid, a platform that gives developers access to a range of quantum devices and simulators, through qBraid's managed API.

Standard state-vector simulators run into a memory wall at a few dozen qubits, because memory requirements double with every qubit. MIMIQ⢠pairs optimized state-vector emulation with Matrix Product State (MPS) techniques, a compressed representation of quantum states that sidesteps this barrier as long as entanglement stays limited. MIMIQ⢠can simulate up to thousands of qubits and millions of gates. (Leonteva et al., Comparative Benchmarking of Utility-Scale Quantum Emulators).

The integration brings that scale to qBraid's community of more than 35,000 developers. For five consecutive years, qBraid has also been the official development platform of MIT's iQuHACK, the university's annual quantum hackathon. With MIMIQâ¢, developers can:

- Validate algorithms at sizes closer to real hardware before using QPU time

- Study noise effects and test error correction protocols at scale

- Explore circuits beyond the reach of exact statevector emulation using Matrix Product State (MPS) with controlled truncation error.

Users submit circuits to MIMIQ⢠from qBraid Runtime through qBraid's managed API, with no MIMIQ⢠infrastructure to set up. The Provider Plugin that connects the two is open source under the Apache License 2.0 and builds on QPerfect's open-source mimiqcircuits-python library.

"Quantum computing requires more than advances in hardware. Developers need the software infrastructure to design, test, and validate increasingly complex quantum algorithms," said Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO of BTQ Technologies. "By bringing MIMIQ to qBraid's developer community, we're expanding access to large-scale quantum emulation and supporting the development of the broader quantum computing ecosystem. This collaboration reflects our strategy of building the infrastructure needed to advance quantum computing from research toward practical applications."

"At QPerfect, we build the full software stack quantum teams need to get from algorithm to hardware, and emulation at scale is one essential step on that path. Developers are designing circuits too large for exact statevector emulation, and they need to test them before hardware time is available. qBraid's community already builds and tests quantum software on the platform, and MIMIQ⢠is now a few lines of code away for them. We're excited to see what they build," said Philippe Blot, CEO of QPerfect.

"Developers on qBraid are increasingly working at scales that exact simulation can't reach, and many of them now build alongside AI agents that design, test, and iterate on circuits for them. MIMIQ gives both a place to run those circuits before they ever touch hardware, through the same SDK they already use for every other device on qBraid. We're excited to bring QPerfect's emulation technology to our community," said Ryan Hill, CTO, qBraid.

See It at Q2B Chicago

Learn more at Quantum Developer Day (quantumdeveloperday.com), hosted by qBraid on December 7, 2026, at the Microsoft Innovation Hub in Chicago, and at Q2B26 x Chicago Quantum Summit, December 8â10, 2026.

About qBraid

qBraid is a cloud platform for quantum software development, used by more than 35,000 developers across over 100 countries and 2,000+ universities and research institutions, alongside national labs and enterprise teams. Through a single open-source SDK, qBraid gives developers access to quantum hardware from leading providers, high-performance simulators, and on-demand GPU and CPU compute, with integrated agentic tooling that lets AI agents run quantum workloads directly on the platform.

Learn more at qbraid.com, or follow qBraid on YouTube, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

About QPerfect

QPerfect, a wholly owned subsidiary of BTQ Technologies, is a French quantum computing company based in Strasbourg, led by a team of scientists and engineers recognized for their pioneering work in neutral atom physics, quantum optics, and quantum software engineering, and specializing in quantum computing and quantum design automation. Founded in 2023, the deeptech company has received the i-Lab Grand Prix and provides powerful technology to enable researchers, developers, and manufacturers to realize the full potential of quantum computers.

At the core of QPerfect's innovation is the Quantum Logic Unit (QLU), a multi-layered framework designed to accelerate quantum development. Its flagship product, MIMIQâ¢, forms the first layer of the QLU⢠and offers a cutting-edge platform that executes quantum algorithms with unmatched speed, accuracy, and flexibility -- surpassing existing simulators and current quantum computers. For more information, please visit https://qperfect.io.

About BTQ Technologies Corp.

BTQ Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: BTQ | Cboe CA: BTQ) is a quantum technology company focused on accelerating the transition from classical networks to the quantum internet. Backed by a broad patent portfolio and deep technical expertise, BTQ is developing a full-stack, neutral-atom quantum computing platform spanning hardware, middleware, and post-quantum security solutions for finance, telecommunications, logistics, life sciences, and defense.

Building Trusted Quantum Technologies.

Connect with BTQ: Website | LinkedIn | X/Twitter

Trademarks

MIMIQ⢠and QLU⢠are trademarks of QPerfect SAS. [All other names are the property of their respective owners.]

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Olivier Roussy Newton

CEO, Chairman

Neither Cboe Canada nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information.

Forward-looking statements and information in this release include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: the Company's business plans and strategic objectives relating to QPerfect and its MIMIQ⢠quantum emulation platform; the integration and availability of MIMIQ through qBraid's platform and managed API; the anticipated functionality, accessibility, performance, scalability, and benefits of the integration for quantum software developers and researchers; the ability of MIMIQ to simulate or emulate quantum circuits of varying sizes and complexity, including circuits involving thousands of qubits and millions of gates under certain conditions; the anticipated use of MIMIQ for quantum algorithm development, testing, benchmarking, and error-correction research; the potential adoption and utilization of MIMIQ by qBraid users and the broader quantum computing community; the expected benefits of providing access to MIMIQ through qBraid's existing development environment; the continued development, enhancement, and commercialization of QPerfect's quantum computing software and emulation technologies; the development of QLUâ¢, including its anticipated functionality and targeted future release; the potential expansion of the collaboration between QPerfect and qBraid; the companies' anticipated participation in industry events, including Q2B Chicago; and the development and adoption of quantum computing technologies and related software infrastructure. Forward-looking statements and information can often be identified by words such as "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "plan," "aim," "may," "will," "target," and similar expressions.

The Company has made assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements and information, including, among other things: the continued cooperation of QPerfect and qBraid; the successful operation, maintenance, and potential enhancement of the MIMIQ integration; the technical feasibility, functionality, and performance of MIMIQ under applicable simulation conditions; the compatibility of MIMIQ with qBraid's platform, managed API, and existing development tools; the availability of necessary computing infrastructure and technical resources; the continued development and improvement of QPerfect's quantum emulation technologies; the successful advancement of QLU and other software development initiatives; the availability of necessary technical, financial, and commercial resources; continued interest in quantum computing research and software development; demand for quantum simulation and emulation solutions; the performance of relevant technology providers and counterparties; and general business and economic conditions and developments in quantum computing technologies.

The median monthly mortgage payment is still sitting at its second-highest level on record, spooking would-be buyers

SEATTLE, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The median U.S. home-sale price has fallen for the first time in more than three years, according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket.

U.S. housing market takeaways for the four weeks ending Oct. 25:

- Home-sale prices ticked down. The median home-sale price was $389,601, down 0.1% year over year. That marks the second straight week in which prices ticked downâit follows a 0.2% decline last weekâafter three straight years of increases.

- Homebuying demand fell to a new low. Pending home sales declined 1.8% from a week earlier to the lowest level in records dating back to 2021. For the third week in a row, pending sales declined in all 50 of the most populous U.S. metro areas.

- The typical homebuyer's monthly payment hit its second-highest level on record. The median mortgage payment was $2,786, up 10.7% year over year to the highest level in Redfin's record except the prior week. The weekly average mortgage rate is 7.32%, down from 7.4% a week earlier but still near a three-year high.

- Would-be sellers pulled back. New listings declined 0.6% from a week earlier to their lowest level since the start of the year as homeowners react to slow homebuying demand.

- Total supply is creeping up. The total number of homes for sale ticked up 0.3% from a week earlier. Even though new listings are falling, pending sales are falling more, keeping the pool of inventory partly filled. There are hundreds of thousands more home sellers than buyers nationwide, giving buyers more negotiating power than they've had in over a decade.

For Redfin economists' takes on the housing market, please visit Redfin's "From Our Economists" page.

Key Housing Market Data

For more national and metro-level housing-market stats, please visit Redfin's data center.

To view the full report, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/news/housing-market-update-home-sale-prices-fall-october-2026

About Redfin 

Redfin is a technology-driven real estate company with the country's most-visited real estate brokerage website. As part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), Redfin is creating an integrated homeownership platform from search to close to make the dream of homeownership more affordable and accessible for everyone. Redfin's clients can see homes first with on-demand tours, easily apply for a home loan with Rocket Mortgage, and save thousands in fees while working with a top local agent.

You can find more information about Redfin and get the latest housing market data and research at https://www.redfin.com/news. For more information about Rocket Companies, visit https://www.rocketcompanies.com.

SOURCE Redfin

Share this article

Appointment brings expertise in small animal internal medicine and gastrointestinal physiology to the evaluation of feline health research

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- National Veterinary Associates (NVA), a leading pet health care services company, today announced that Tracy Hill, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), Vice President of Science and Clinical Advancement, has been named to Morris Animal Foundation's FY27 Feline Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).

Dr. Hill was invited to serve on the board for her scientific background, particularly her expertise in gastrointestinal physiology, which is particularly valuable in evaluating research proposals across the diverse field of feline health.

As a member of the board, Dr. Hill will review and score grant proposals to help Morris Animal Foundation identify scientifically rigorous, humane research with the potential to advance feline health and welfare. Expert review plays an important role in directing research funding toward studies that can address knowledge gaps and ultimately inform veterinary care.

Dr. Hill helps advance clinical research across NVA's network of more than 1,200 general practice, specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals. Her appointment extends that work to the broader scientific community, contributing her expertise to research advancing feline health and veterinary medicine.

"Thoughtful scientific review is essential to directing research funding toward questions that matter for animal health. Because Morris Animal Foundation supports research around the world, this work can help advance feline care in many settings, including places where veterinary care for pets has received less investment. I'm honored to bring my experience in internal medicine and gastrointestinal physiology to the Feline Scientific Advisory Board and support research that can move feline medicine forward," says Tracy Hill, Vice President of Science and Clinical Advancement at NVA.

For more than 75 years, Morris Animal Foundation has supported research to improve animal health worldwide. Its scientific advisory boards bring together experts to help ensure funding decisions are informed by objective scientific evaluation.

About National Veterinary Associates

National Veterinary Associates is defining the future of pet health care services. NVA is a community of over 1200 hospitals and pet resorts across North America, including general practice veterinary hospitals, specialty and emergency hospitals, pet resorts and equine veterinary services. NVA is committed to giving pets and the people who love them more quality years together. For more information, visit www.nva.com.

Media Contact:

Julia Healey

[email protected]

SOURCE National Veterinary Associates

Share this article

First and Only Liquid Embolic Approved for Both Peripheral Arterial Bleeds and Hypervascular Tumors Supported by Two Prospective, Multicenter Pivotal Clinical Trials

BURLINGTON, Mass., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Instylla, Inc., a privately held company advancing resorbable embolics for peripheral vascular embolization, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the expanded indication for the Embrace® Hydrogel Embolic System (HES) to include embolization of peripheral arterial bleeds in vessels ⤠6 mm. The approval follows the company's initial premarket approval (PMA) in August 2025 for hypervascular tumor embolization. Embrace HES is commercially available in the U.S.

"Patients facing complex vascular conditions need more options. Embrace HES was built to deliver that versatility," said Sean Boyle, CEO, Instylla, Inc. "With approvals now in both interventional oncology and peripheral hemostasis, we're redefining what's possible in interventional care and building a transformative platform for the many vascular conditions still ahead."

The approval was based on the HALT study, a prospective, multicenter, single-arm trial that enrolled 130 patients with peripheral arterial bleeds at 22 U.S. sites. Embrace HES met both prespecified primary endpoints, with 100% freedom from major adverse events and 90.0% clinical success (no rebleeding from the target lesion) through 30 days.1

"When treating an arterial bleed, you need an embolic solution that can reach the source of bleeding while providing precise control. Embrace HES allows you to tailor your approach to the anatomy, achieving either distal or proximal embolization with a single embolic agent. Its novel design also allows you to maintain microcatheter access after embolization, unlike many currently available liquid embolics. This combination of control, versatility, and preserved access makes it a valuable new option for interventional radiologists," said Suvranu Ganguli, MD, FSIR, Chief of Interventional Radiology, Boston Medical Center and Professor of Radiology and Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, and Principal Investigator of the HALT study.

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of potentially preventable death after trauma,2 and arterial bleeding also arises from non-traumatic sources such as non-variceal upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, solid-organ bleeds, and tumors. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has become a mainstay of treatment, with reported success rates of 81%â100% in unstable pelvic fractures3 and a role in upper GI bleeds not controlled by endoscopy.4 Conventional embolics have limits, however. For instance, coils depend on the patient's own clotting and can be less effective in coagulopathy.5

"What sets Embrace HES apart is its safety profile and controlled delivery. In the HALT Study, I saw firsthand how its design features help minimize non-target embolization and allow you to adjust the embolic placement. I'm looking forward to what this expanded indication could mean for patients," said Susie Park MD, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

About Embrace Hydrogel Embolic System:

Embrace HES is indicated for embolization of hypervascular tumors in peripheral arteries ⤠5mm and peripheral arterial bleeds in vessels ⤠6mm. Embrace HES is a water-based polyethylene glycol hydrogel that forms in the vessel. The non-adhesive hydrogel eliminates the possibility of catheter entrapment, is coagulation independent, and contains no DMSO or components that obscure CT or MRI. Upon delivery, the hydrogel casts out the vasculature to create a rapid and sustained occlusion. The hydrogel liquifies via hydrolysis over approximately 11 months.

About Instylla:

Instylla, Inc. is a privately held company based in Burlington, MA, focused on advancing resorbable embolic agents with products approved for use in interventional oncology and peripheral hemostasis. Instylla was founded in 2017 by Incept LLC and is funded by several leading venture capital groups.

To learn more, please visit https://www.instylla.com/

1 Data on file

2 Holcomb JB. Methods for improved hemorrhage control. Crit Care. 2004;8(Suppl 2):S57âS60. (DOI: 10.1186/cc2407)

3 Papakostidis C, Kanakaris N, Dimitriou R ...The role of arterial embolization in controlling pelvic fracture haemorrhage: A systematic review of the literature. European Journal of Radiology, 81, 897-904

4 Wilkins T, Wheeler B, Carpenter M. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in adults: evaluation and management. Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(5):294â300.

5 Kord A, Kuwahara JT, Rabiee B, Ray CE Jr. Basic Principles of Trauma Embolization. Semin Intervent Radiol. 2021 Mar;38(1):144-152. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1726004. Epub 2021 Apr 15. PMID: 33883812; PMCID: PMC8049756.

SOURCE Instylla, Inc.

Share this article

Dr. Jason Patterson completed three procedures using Stryker's newest patient-specific ankle technology

PHOENIX, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Jason Patterson, an orthopedic surgeon with OrthoArizona, is the first surgeon in the world to perform total ankle replacement surgery using Stryker's new Prophecy Incompass patient-specific instrumentation. Dr. Patterson completed three procedures in July 2026.

The Prophecy system uses a patient's own CT scan to build a custom, 3D-printed surgical guide before the operation begins. Paired with Stryker's Incompass total ankle system, it gives surgeons the flexibility to switch between implant types, stemmed or pegged, during surgery if a patient's anatomy calls for it once the joint is exposed.

"Stryker's Prophecy Incompass technology lets me build a plan around that specific patient's anatomy before I ever step into the operating room, instead of relying on a generic template," said Dr. Patterson. "Patients feel that difference in their recovery. It's a more predictable path back to walking without pain."

Dr. Patterson has used CT-guided, patient-specific instrumentation for ankle replacement since 2015. He said the newest generation of this technology makes implant placement more consistent and surgery more efficient.

Total ankle replacement is a procedure where precision plays an instrumental role in outcomes. Accurate implant positioning affects stability, mobility and how long a replacement holds up over time, making it one of the more technically demanding procedures in orthopedics. OrthoArizona's adoption of Prophecy Incompass reflects a broader commitment across the organization to putting the most advanced tools available into the hands of its surgeons.

"Dr. Patterson set a new bar for ankle surgery, and he did it here, at OrthoArizona," said Dr. Rajan Bhatt, CEO of OrthoArizona. "Patients in Arizona shouldn't have to travel somewhere else to get access to the most advanced orthopedic care available. That's exactly why we keep investing in physicians and technology like this, so patients can get that level of innovation right here at home."

As Prophecy Incompass continues to roll out, OrthoArizona and Dr. Patterson plan to build on this milestone, evaluating how technology can extend to more complex and revision ankle caes. Patients interested in learning more can visit orthoarizona.org

About OrthoArizona

Founded in 1994, OrthoArizona is the largest physician-led orthopedic group in the Southwest and Arizona's premier provider of comprehensive musculoskeletal care, with more than 300 healthcare providers across more than 30 centers and 15 ambulatory surgery centers throughout the Phoenix metro area. The group treats the full range of musculoskeletal conditions, with subspecialty care in sports medicine, spine, total joint replacement, hand and wrist, shoulder and elbow, foot and ankle, interventional pain management and podiatric surgery, supported by advanced imaging, physical therapy and outpatient surgical care.

Trusted by elite athletes and major sports franchises, OrthoArizona proudly serves as the team physician for the Arizona Cardinals and Arizona Rattlers, and provides medical support for organizations including the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants. For more information, visit orthoarizona.org.

SOURCE OrthoArizona

Share this article

Chainsight Appoints Tom Lin to Lead Expansion of Data & AI Services

Seasoned data and AI executive brings more than twenty-five years of experience in enterprise data modernization, analytics, and AI to accelerate Chainsight's next phase of growth.

CHICAGO, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Chainsight, an AI-native supply chain consulting firm, today announced the appointment of Tom Lin as Managing Partner of Data & AI, strengthening the company's investment in advanced data, analytics, and AI capabilities for manufacturing, distributors and retail organizations.

Tom brings 25+ years of experience helping enterprises modernize their data environments, develop analytics strategies, and translate emerging technologies into measurable business value. He most recently served as Senior Vice President of Consulting at Wavicle Data Solutions (acquired by Deloitte), where he led industry practices focused on delivering data and AI solutions to manufacturing and distribution customers.

His appointment marks a major step in Chainsight's strategy to bring together deep supply chain expertise, modern data engineering, and AI-driven decision intelligence under one integrated offering.

"Supply chain leaders are under tremendous pressure to unlock the value of AI, but the reality is that many organizations are still constrained by fragmented systems, inconsistent data, and disconnected technology investments," said Santos Carrillo, Founder & CEO of Chainsight. "Tom brings a proven track record of helping organizations realize the value of their data and translate AI innovation into real business outcomes. His experience and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to help our clients navigate and accelerate their data and AI transformations."

Building the Data Foundation for AI-Powered Supply Chains

As part of his new role, Tom will lead the development and expansion of Chainsight's Data & AI Practice, focused on helping clients modernize their data infrastructure and deploy AI solutions that improve supply chain performance.

The practice will bring together data strategy, engineering, governance, advanced analytics, and AI enablement, with an emphasis on high-value supply chain applications including demand forecasting, inventory optimization, supplier intelligence, and integrated business planning.

Chainsight's approach is designed to bridge a longstanding gap between enterprise data initiatives and supply chain execution. By combining industry-specific expertise with modern technology platforms, the company aims to help clients establish trusted data foundations while accelerating the adoption of intelligent planning and decision-making capabilities.

"What drew me to Chainsight is its team's real, hands-on supply chain expertise. Pairing that with modern data and AI capabilities lets us help clients make better decisions and see tangible value from their investments," Lin said.

About Chainsight

Chainsight is an AI-native supply chain consulting firm specializing in System Integration, Business Integration, and Intelligence Integration. The company helps manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accelerate business outcomes by combining enterprise software, artificial intelligence, and deep supply chain expertise. Through strategic technology partnerships, proprietary AI agents, and implementation accelerators, Chainsight enables organizations to modernize planning, optimize operations, and realize value faster. Learn more at www.chainsight.ai.

Contact Information

Santos Carrillo

Founder & CEO, Chainsight

[email protected]

(847) 791-2050

SOURCE Chainsight

Share this article

Enterprise brands can now buy Ace, enabled by Gemini, through their Google Cloud account and apply it toward existing Google Cloud spend commitments

NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Knotch today announced that Ace, its Agentic Content Engine, is now available on Google Cloud Marketplace. Built with Google Cloud and enabled by Gemini, Ace is a new category of AI experience infrastructure that helps enterprise brands deliver personalized digital experiences for the AI-native audience. With Marketplace availability, brands can discover, buy, and deploy Ace through their existing Google Cloud account, with purchases counting toward their Google Cloud spend commitments.

AI has changed how people discover brands and what they expect once they arrive at a brand's website. Consumers now expect experiences that are conversational and personal, yet most websites still serve static, generic pages built for an earlier era. According to Knotch's behavioral data, more than 80% of visitors leave brand websites without meaningfully engaging, and fewer than 1% convert.

Ace sits on top of a brand's existing technology stack and adapts the digital experience in real time, with no replatform or engineering lift. It ingests content from every source, atomizes it into modular knowledge, and reassembles it around each visitor's intent. Visitors can browse the way they always have or simply ask a question, and Ace responds in the format they prefer, whether that is text, video, visual, or audio.

Since its launch in June, Ace has averaged a 20% reduction in bounce rates, a 5x increase in engagement, and a 3x increase in conversions for its live beta customers. Initial Ace customers include GEICO, Square, Ally Financial, Zillow, and Cox Automotive.

What Google Cloud Marketplace availability means for customers

Google Cloud Marketplace offers a universal catalog of solutions from Google and its partner ecosystem for customers to easily discover, try, buy, and use. With Ace available on Marketplace, customers can:

- Apply purchases toward existing Google Cloud spend commitments

- Streamline procurement and billing through a familiar Google Cloud account

- Negotiate custom pricing and terms through Private Offers

"Every brand we talk to is trying to figure out how to meet a consumer who arrives informed, intentional, and expecting a conversation," said Anda Gansca, Co-Founder and CEO of Knotch. "We built Ace on Google Cloud from day one, so bringing it to Google Cloud Marketplace means the teams already building there can add Ace through the account and commitments they already have. It shortens the distance between deciding to try and seeing it work on their own site."

"Simplifying how enterprises procure and deploy critical technologies is a core component of accelerating digital transformation," said Dai Vu, Managing Director, Marketplace & ISV GTM Programs at Google Cloud. "By bringing Ace to Google Cloud Marketplace, Knotch is providing customers with the trusted infrastructure and streamlined access needed to optimize operations and unlock real-world business value."

Availability

Knotch Ace is available now on Google Cloud Marketplace. To learn more, visit Ace on Google Cloud Marketplace here or visit knotch.com to request a demo.

About Knotch

Knotch provides infrastructure for the AI-native customer journey. Co-founded by Anda Gansca (CEO) and Aron Tzimas (CPO), Knotch enables brands to be visible to the AI tools that guide customers, convert the customers who arrive at brand digital properties, and measure the business impact. Knotch's Ace platform is grounded in Knotch's proprietary data foundation, intelligence framework and years of customer journey expertise. Knotch serves Fortune 1000 brands including UPS, AAA, Citi, Zillow, Synchrony Bank, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Realtor.com and Rocket. Learn more at knotch.com.

Media Contact Lauren Douglass, [email protected]

Google Cloud, Google Cloud Marketplace, and Gemini are trademarks of Google LLC.

SOURCE Knotch

Share this article

Highly Anticipated Lens is Designed to Meet the Demands of Professional Sports Photographers

MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Nikon Inc. announced the release of the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S, a fast telephoto pro-level zoom lens compatible with full-frame/FX-format mirrorless cameras.

As part of the S-Line1 series of NIKKOR Z lenses, the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S is a telephoto zoom lens that covers a focal length range of 120mm to 300mm with a fast, constant maximum aperture of f/2.82 throughout the zoom range. It is the world's first3 zoom lens with a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 to feature a built-in 1.4Ã teleconverter. This gives photographers the flexibility to cover a wide range of sports scenes, from low-light indoor events like figure skating and basketball, to outdoor sports such as tennis and soccer, where photographers often work at varying distances from their subjects.

Despite being a zoom lens, it delivers outstanding rendering performance comparable to that of a prime lens across the entire frame. With superior resolution and large, natural bokeh, the lens captures athletes' facial expressions and movements in fine detail, creating immersive images that make viewers feel as if they were part of the action. The built-in 1.4Ã teleconverter extends reach to a super-telephoto focal length of 420mm with a single easily accessible switch, while maintaining superior rendering performance.

The lens is surprisingly nimble, weighing approximately 6 lbs (2,735 g), making it about 1.1 lbs (515 g) lighter than the AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR (released in 2020). The reduced weight and time saved switching equipment supports photographers' ability to capture decisive moments in rapidly changing sports action.

Nikon will continue to pursue a new dimension in optical performance while meeting users' needs and contributing to the development of imaging culture, with the hope of expanding possibilities for imaging expression.

Primary features

- Delivers fast, highly precise, and smooth autofocus (AF) control with the Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM)4 to track rapidly moving athletes.

- Features Meso Amorphous Coat, which offers the best anti-reflection performance in Nikon history5, and ARNEO Coat to effectively suppress ghosting and flare for clear images, even in situations where light sources are likely to enter the frame.

- Powerful 6.5-stop6 vibration reduction (VR) performance at the center and edges of the frame when used with a camera that supports Synchro VR.

- Features an internal focusing (IF) system and an internal zoom mechanism that keep the overall length of the lens constant during focusing or zooming.

- Supports Arca-Swiss tripod heads7 for smoother mounting and removal of the lens.

- The tripod collar features a rubber cushion and integrated finger grip for stable portability.

- Supports both front screw-on filters and rear slip-in filter holders.

- Includes the HB-120 Bayonet Hood, which has no protruding parts and is easy to attach and remove, allowing convenient storage and easy handling.

- Offers high durability using magnesium alloy and superior dust- and drip-resistant performance8 through extensive sealing.

Price and Availability

The new NIKKOR Z 120-300mm F/2.8 TC VR S lens will be available in mid-November 2026 for a suggested retail price of $13,999.95*. For more information about the latest Nikon products, including the vast collection of NIKKOR Z lenses and the entire line of Z series cameras, please visit nikonusa.com.

About Nikon

Nikon is a world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and cutting-edge technologies for photo and video capture. The company is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for reliable, award-winning equipment that is trusted by visual storytellers and content creators. Nikon Inc. distributes and markets consumer and professional Z Series mirrorless cameras, DSLR cameras, a vast array of NIKKOR lenses, COOLPIX compact cameras and the Z CINEMA line developed in partnership with leading digital cinema company RED Digital Cinema - a wholly owned subsidiary of Nikon Corporation. After more than 100 years of innovation, Nikon continues to set industry standards for imaging performance and design and has the advantage of being one of the few manufacturers of precision optical glass in the world. Nikon's commitment to providing professional photographers and filmmakers with world-class products remains central to the company's efforts. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com. Connect with Nikon on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok.

Specifications, equipment, and release dates are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.

1 The S-Line is a grade of NIKKOR Z lenses that demonstrate outstanding optical performance, adhering to a high standard of design principles and quality control.

2 The maximum aperture is f/4 when the built-in teleconverter is used.

3 Among interchangeable zoom lenses announced as of October 29, 2026. Statement based on Nikon research.

4 An AF drive actuator that combines a Voice Coil Motor (VCM) and a guide mechanism developed by Nikon.

5 Among interchangeable lenses for Nikon cameras.

6 Based on CIPA 2024 Standard. Yaw/Pitch/Roll compensation performance when mounted on the Z6III without a teleconverter enabled (telephoto end, [NORMAL] mode). A camera that supports Synchro VR is required.

7 The tripod collar of this lens can be attached to Arca-Swiss screw-type quick-release clamps. However, please avoid using lever-type clamps, as they may not fix the lens firmly in place.

8 Thorough dust and drip resistance is not guaranteed in all situations or under all conditions.

*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

SOURCE Nikon

Share this article

New Digital Capital Management platform gives PEOs, ASOs, and payroll service providers control, compliance, and visibility across AI agents and human teams

CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PrismHR, the leading HR technology software innovator for service providers across the U.S., today announced the launch of AI Orchestrator, part of its new Digital Capital Management (DCM) offering that helps service providers and their SMB clients create, deploy, manage, and govern AI agents alongside their human workforce.

As AI adoption accelerates, most organizations lack the infrastructure to manage these systems securely and at scale. Building on decades of experience supporting service providers and the SMBs they serve, AI Orchestrator extends that mission into the AI era, empowering PEOs, ASOs, and payroll service providers to build, test, orchestrate, and govern their digital workforce with the same confidence and compliance they have come to expect from PrismHR.

"For decades, we've delivered best-in-class solutions for managing the human workforce. Today, we're bringing that same expertise to the Digital Workforce. Every service provider and their SMB clients will soon rely on AI agents, and AI Orchestrator is the platform that enables them to do so with confidence," said Mike DeLessio, President of PrismHR.

"AI Orchestrator is a natural extension of the work we've been doing across PrismHR. We've spent years helping SMBs and the service providers that support them manage their human workforce with world-class products and services. Now we're bringing that same level of control, compliance, and confidence to the digital workforce," said Alex Campos, CEO of Vensure Employer Solutions.

AI Orchestrator is a comprehensive Digital Capital Management platform that enables organizations to:

Build agents natively within the AI Orchestrator environment using intuitive, no-code and low-code tooling designed for business users and developers alike.

Test agents rigorously before deployment with built-in simulation, scenario validation, and performance benchmarking capabilities.

Orchestrate complex multi-agent workflows, enabling agents to collaborate, escalate, and complete end-to-end business processes autonomously.

Govern the Digital Workforce through enterprise-grade policy controls, audit trails, compliance monitoring, and performance analytics.

Manage third-party agents alongside AI Orchestrator-native agents, providing a single pane of glass for the entire digital workforce, regardless of origin or vendor.

Connect seamlessly across the enterprise with over 500 out-of-the-box integrations spanning HR, payroll, CRM, ERP, productivity, and industry-specific platforms, enabling the digital workforce to work within the tools service providers and their clients already use.

This last capability is a critical differentiator. AI Orchestrator does not require service providers to abandon existing AI investments. Instead, it serves as the operating layer that brings all agents, whether internally built or third-party, under unified management, visibility, and governance.

PrismHR's partner ecosystem is already weighing in on what the shift toward a digital workforce means for the broader PEO and service provider industry. John Slavic, Founder and CEO of Slavic401k, a longtime PrismHR partner and national 401(k) provider serving PEOs, employers, and financial advisors, sees the moment as a turning point for the industry:

"The rise of autonomous AI agents represents one of the most significant transformations of the modern economy since the introduction of enterprise software. Service providers who equip their clients with the infrastructure to manage a digital workforce today will be the ones best positioned to lead their industries tomorrow," said Slavic.

PrismHR will offer the platform to its service bureau clients, giving PEOs, ASOs, and payroll service providers a way to bring AI Orchestrator to the SMBs they already serve within the technology ecosystem those clients rely on today.

To learn more, visit: https://www.prismhr.com/ai-orchestrator/

About PrismHR

PrismHR creates exceptional software and services, empowering human resources outsourcing service providers such as Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs), Administrative Service Organizations (ASOs) and payroll service providers. PrismHR's technology supports PEO operations and HCM solutions with HR, payroll, benefits, compliance, onboarding, and employee experience for millions of worksite employees across the United States. Today, PrismHR powers a significant portion of the HR outsourcing industry, helping providers grow, operate efficiently and deliver more value to their clients. A Vensure Employer Solutions company, PrismHR is located in Chandler, Arizona. PrismHR will offer AI Orchestrator to service bureaus, with optional private labeling for client-branded delivery. For more information, visit www.prismhr.com.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE PrismHR

Share this article