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FWD Group partners with Microsoft to shape the future of AI-driven insurance experiences

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HONG KONG, Feb. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — FWD Group Holdings Limited (“FWD Group” or “FWD”) today announced it is extending its partnership with Microsoft with a four-year agreement to provide access to the latest generative artificial intelligence (AI) innovations, while continuing to support FWD’s cloud-first technology strategy.

FWD Group plans to drive its generative AI initiatives by leveraging Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service and other enterprise-grade innovations. FWD Group expects to benefit from the private networking, monitoring and security capabilities of Microsoft Azure as well as its advanced AI models.

Ryan Kim, Group Chief Digital Officer of FWD Group, said, “Digital innovation has always been core to FWD’s vision of changing the way people feel about insurance. This collaboration marries FWD’s pioneering spirit in Asia in some of the fastest growing insurance markets in the world, with the global scale and skill that Microsoft brings in engineering and AI.

“We’re excited to harness more next-generation innovations to develop new industry use cases and standards that we believe will shape the insurance journey of the future.” 

FWD Group is working to enhance the customer experience and its operations in areas like acquisition, marketing, channel and agent performance, underwriting, claims and customer service. The company is also an early adopter of Copilot for Microsoft 365, an AI companion that supports employees in their day-to-day work.

Bill Borden, Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Financial Services, Microsoft, said, “AI is driving transformation across the financial services industry, opening new opportunities for innovation and business growth with agility and at scale. We are thrilled to strengthen our AI partnership with FWD by offering Azure OpenAI Service and Copilot for Microsoft 365 capabilities to enable world-class customer experiences and operations securely and responsibly.

“As a pivotal player in the global financial landscape, the Asia Pacific region stands out for its dynamism and adaptability, fostering continuous growth and driving innovation. We are committed to empowering our customers in the region with generative AI capabilities in a responsible way. With Microsoft’s enterprise-grade AI advancements, we are helping the financial services ecosystem accelerate innovation to drive operational efficiency and greater value creation to customers.”

FWD Group embarked on its AI journey in 2019 and now has almost 200 active AI models applied across its business, with over 600 use cases.

About FWD Group

FWD Group is a pan-Asian life insurance business with more than 11 million customers across 10 markets, including some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world. FWD reached its 10-year anniversary in 2023. The company is focused on making the insurance journey simpler, faster and smoother, with innovative propositions and easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this customer-led approach, FWD is committed to changing the way people feel about insurance.

For more information, please visit www.fwd.com

About Microsoft  

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. 

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SOURCE FWD Group Holdings Limited

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PopTake joins Stamina Group’s media network through strategic partnership with View the VIBE

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Hosted by Hugo Filipe and Mikael Melo, the Canadian pop culture podcast enters a new chapter as “PopTake, powered by View the VIBE,” with ambitions to reach audiences across Canada and beyond.

TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2026 /CNW/ — Canadian pop culture podcast PopTake, hosted by Hugo Filipe and Mikael Melo, has officially joined Stamina Group’s media network through a strategic partnership with View the VIBE. The collaboration brings together two entertainment-focused platforms with a shared passion for culture, community and storytelling, with plans to expand PopTake’s reach nationally and explore international distribution opportunities.

Now operating as “PopTake, powered by View the VIBE.” Your hot takes on music, pop culture and life. The show will benefit from the publication’s established Canadian audience, editorial platform and industry/distribution relationships while maintaining the independent voice and creative chemistry that have become its signature.

The partnership also builds on Stamina Group’s experience bringing Canadian-produced content to international audiences. Through its globally distributed video podcast Gents Talk, which has secured placement on airline entertainment systems worldwide and through other transportation syndication partners, Stamina Group has established relationships it hopes to leverage to introduce PopTake to audiences beyond Canada.

“Building Stamina Group has always been about amplifying creative voices and connecting audiences through meaningful content,” says Steven Branco, Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Stamina Group Inc. and Editor-in-Chief, View the VIBE. “With PopTake’s focus on pop culture and View the VIBE’s roots in community, culture and entertainment, the partnership felt like a natural fit. Hugo and Mikael have built something special, and we’re excited to help take it further. Building on the international success of Gent’s Talk and our global distribution partnerships, we see an opportunity to bring PopTake to audiences across Canada and around the world.”

Two best friends, plenty of hot takes

Launched in April 2025, PopTake is a weekly entertainment podcast covering music, film, television, celebrity culture and life. Hosted by longtime friends Hugo Filipe and Mikael Melo, the show combines candid commentary, celebrity interviews and social-first content with the energy of a group chat.

Now in its second season, PopTake has built a growing presence on Canada’s entertainment circuit, covering major events including TIFF, the JUNO Awards, the Canadian Screen Awards and Osheaga. Its celebrity interviews have featured the likes of Zara Larsson, Katy Perry, Chloe Bailey, JADE, Perrie Edwards, FLO, Sofi Tukker, Patrick J. Adams, Eric McCormack, Lauren Ash, Simple Plan and Holly Humberstone, and more.

The show also features recognizable segments including Backtrack, where artists identify their songs played backwards; This or That, a rapid-fire celebrity interview format where artists must choose between their own songs; and HotTake or FlopTake, featuring the hosts’ weekly pop culture verdicts.

“PopTake started as two best friends who couldn’t stop talking about pop culture, so we hit record,” says Hugo Filipe, Co-Founder & Co-Host, PopTake. “Partnering with View the VIBE puts our takes in front of an audience that loves this stuff, as much as we do.”

“We strike the balance between professional and fanboy,” adds Mikael Melo, Co-Founder & Co-Host, PopTake . “Our podcast feels like your two internet besties gushing over your favourite artists, and every now and then, we get to interview them. Asking the questions fans actually want answered.”

Beyond the podcast, both hosts bring established entertainment and creative industry experience.

Hugo Filipe is a Toronto-based creative director, photographer and entrepreneur. He leads Mister Mister, a creative studio with clients including H&M, RBC, OVO and Campbell’s, and owns Nosso Studio, which operates two creative spaces in Toronto.

Mikael Melo is a Canadian Screen Award-winning producer, reporter and digital creator whose credits include ET Canada, Big Brother Canada and The Social. He has interviewed international stars including Katy Perry, Olivia Rodrigo and Florence Pugh, and collaborated with brands including Paramount+, Samsung, Sony Pictures and Universal Music Canada.

What’s next for PopTake?

Through the partnership, PopTake will continue producing its weekly podcast and signature social-first content, while exploring expanded editorial collaborations, new sponsors, celebrity interviews, event coverage, branded entertainment opportunities, in-person events and new distribution channels.

The addition of PopTake further strengthens Stamina Group’s growing portfolio of International media properties, which includes View the VIBE, WanderEater, Gent’s Post and the internationally distributed and acclaimed video podcast, Gent’s Talk.

NOTE TO EDITORS

High-resolution photos and more are available here, including portraits, hero imagery, BTS, logo files and more. Please credit PopTake/Stamina Group accordingly.

About PopTake

PopTake is a Canadian pop culture and entertainment podcast hosted by best friends Hugo Filipe and Mikael Melo. Every week, the pair deliver fresh perspectives and unfiltered hot takes on the biggest stories in music, film, TV and celebrity culture. Beyond the weekly episode, PopTake has built a reputation for social first interviews and red carpet coverage, from the JUNO Awards and the Canadian Screen Awards to TIFF and Osheaga, with signature segments like Backtrack, This or That and HotTake or FlopTake. PopTake brings the energy of a group chat to the biggest names in pop. PopTake is powered by View the VIBE, part of the Stamina Group media network.

For more, visit PopTake on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Instagram, TikTok and everywhere you stream your podcasts or PopTakePodcast.com.

About View the VIBE

Established in 2010, View the VIBE is a leading Canadian digital lifestyle and entertainment publication delivering fresh, engaging and culturally relevant content. Known for its fun, edgy and informative approach to storytelling, the platform covers food, hospitality, fashion, entertainment, pop culture and lifestyle through original editorial, video, social storytelling and live experiences. For over 15 years, View the VIBE has connected audiences with the people, places, trends and cultural conversations shaping Toronto, Canada and beyond. Proudly owned and operated by Stamina Group Inc., View the VIBE continues to deliver its signature perspective on culture, community and, of course, the best VIBES.

For more, visit ViewtheVIBE.com.

About Stamina Group Inc.

Stamina Group Inc. (STAMINA) is a privately owned Canadian media, communications and creative production company specializing in award-winning digital-first content, original storytelling and unique brand experiences. Founded and led by award-winning creative multihyphenate and on-air lifestyle expert Steven Branco, STAMINA owns, operates or partners with a growing network of Canadian media brands and platforms, including View the VIBE, WanderEater, Gent’s Post, the globally streamed video podcast Gent’s Talk, and PopTake. Through its creative production arm, STAMINA produces original editorial photography, video and branded content internationally, with work produced for and/or featured in leading global publications including Flaunt, FASHION, HELLO!, VULKAN, SWAGGER, GQ, The Perfect Man, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Architectural Digest, among others.

For more, visit HaveStamina.com.

SOURCE STAMINA Group Inc.

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Shure Named a Leader in the 2026 IDC MarketScape for AI-Enabled Smart Conference Room Hardware for Hybrid Meetings

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NILES, Ill., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shure today announced that it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide AI-Enabled Smart Conference Room Hardware for Hybrid Meetings 2026 Vendor Assessment (Doc #EUR154115926, October 2026).

Building on more than 100 years of audio expertise, Shure helps organizations equip and manage modern meeting spaces while delivering the high-quality speech capture that AI-powered transcription, speaker attribution and meeting summaries rely on.

“Shure’s position as a Leader in this IDC MarketScape reflects how far the company has expanded beyond its audio heritage,” said Gala Spasova, Senior Research Manager, IDC. “Shure has built a comprehensive workplace collaboration portfolio spanning audio, video, compute and cloud management, while maintaining a clear strength in the complex environments where consistent speech capture and intelligibility matter most are critical.”

Shure brings audio, video, compute and ShureCloud device management together in a portfolio that works across the collaboration platforms organizations already use and trust. Shure solutions support Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and Cisco Webex.

Shure Recognized for Strengths
The report cited the following strengths for Shure:

Shure solutions are well suited for challenging audio environments, including large, complex, and mission-critical deployments where consistent speech capture, scalable coverage, and intelligibility are critical to the meeting experience and downstream AI outcomes.

Real-time talker-positional data can trigger and enhance camera tracking in partner video systems, enabling organizations to improve speaker-focused video experiences while retaining flexibility across camera vendors.

Microsoft Teams and Zoom run directly on the IntelliMix Room Kits and Foundation System, which supply compute, audio processing, and touch panel together, and the Bar Pro runs Teams on the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform, with Shure’s own person-detection and speech-enhancement models on the device

“We believe Shure’s recognition as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape reflects the progress we’ve made in expanding our role in the hybrid workplace. Enterprise collaboration should be built as a platform, not a collection of individual meeting rooms,” said Sam Sabet, Executive VP and Chief Technology Officer at Shure. “At Shure, we’re building that platform with secure, manageable technology that can scale from an all-in-one collaboration bar to a multi-camera system in a large, complex room. Continuous innovation is part of that approach, with solutions designed to grow with our customers as their technology needs evolve. That gives IT a consistent foundation to scale while providing AI tools the high-quality inputs they need to do their job.”

When Organizations Should Consider Shure
According to the IDC MarketScape, organizations should consider Shure when:

You manage a large or complex estate with varied acoustic conditions, and audio quality is a decisive purchasing criterion. You want to maximize the value of meeting AI and recognize that transcription, speaker attribution, summarization, and AI-driven insights depend on the quality of the audio captured in the room.

You want system- and device-level life-cycle management and analytics from the conference room solution supplier, complementing the management capabilities available through your collaboration platform’s console.

Support Across the Lifecycle
“The investment doesn’t stop once the technology is installed,” Sabet added. “Customers need to know their systems will continue to perform and that the right support is there when they need it. With warranty coverage available for up to five years and a professional services team working alongside integrators, resellers and managed services providers, we support customers throughout the lifecycle of their collaboration environments.”

To learn more about Shure’s collaboration and conferencing solutions or request a product demonstration, visit Shure’s conferencing page.

About Shure
Shure (www.shure.com) has been helping people sound extraordinary for more than 100 years. Founded in 1925, we are a leading global manufacturer of audio and collaboration technology, known for our commitment to quality, performance, and durability. We make microphones, wireless microphones, conference room solutions, earphones and headphones, in-ear monitors, and more. 

From the biggest broadcast events and live performances, to critical business meetings and university lectures, to your home office or studio, you can always rely on Shure. 

Shure is headquartered just outside of Chicago in Niles, Illinois, in the United States. We have more than 30 locations around the world, and our products are sold in over 120 countries. 

About IDC MarketScape
IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and services suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shure-named-a-leader-in-the-2026-idc-marketscape-for-ai-enabled-smart-conference-room-hardware-for-hybrid-meetings-302919952.html

SOURCE Shure Inc.

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Big Tree Cloud Holdings Limited Announces Filing of Annual Report on Form 20-F for Fiscal Year 2026

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SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Big Tree Cloud Holdings Limited (“Big Tree Cloud” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DSY; DSYWW),  a capital platform focusing on industrial integration and strategic investments in the Chinese personal care industry and a provider of AI technology services, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026 (the “Annual Report”)  with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on October 26, 2026.

The Annual Report is available on Big Tree Cloud’s website at https://www.bigtreecloud.net  and  https://ir.bigtreeclouds.com,  as well  as the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Big Tree Cloud will provide a hard copy of the Annual Report, including its audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders upon request to the investor relations contact below.

About Big Tree Cloud

Founded in 2020, Big Tree Cloud is positioned as an international capital platform focused on industrial integration and strategic investment in China’s personal care industry. In 2026, the Company also expanded its business to include AI technology services. The Company is committed to empowering industries through capital operations and technology-driven solutions. To learn more about the Company, please visit its corporate website at https://www.bigtreecloud.net.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s ability to achieve its goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the growth of, and trends in, the markets in which the Company operates; its ability to successfully develop and expand its AI technology services business, attract and retain customers, satisfy their technical and operational requirements and capture market demand; its ability to maintain and enhance its brand and reputation; its reliance on its relationship with its customers and end-users; its customer concentration; its ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms; changes in laws and regulations affecting its business, including laws and regulations in China; general economic and business conditions globally and in China; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the Annual Report. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

SOURCE Big Tree Cloud Holdings Limited

Investor Relations Contact
Ting Yan
Phone: +86 15986815865
Email: yanting@bigtreeclouds.com 

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