8, Sep 2026
JOHNNIE WALKER DROPS LIMITED EDITION SABRINA CARPENTER BLACK LABEL BOTTLE DESIGN
Latest chapter in Johnnie Walker x Sabrina Carpenter collaboration celebrates bold creativity through collectible new bottle inspired by the confident, unapologetic vibe of Sabrina’s album, Man’s Best Friend
LONDON, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Johnnie Walker, the world’s No. 1 Scotch whisky[1], unveils a new limited edition Johnnie Walker Black Label bottle design created as part of the brand’s ongoing collaboration with GRAMMY® Award-winning global superstar Sabrina Carpenter.
Featuring details inspired by her new album, Man’s Best Friend, from a bespoke Sabrina blue colourway to playful dog paw motifs, the design blends the timeless character of Johnnie Walker Black Label with Sabrina’s signature style. The bottle marks the latest chapter in Johnnie Walker and Sabrina Carpenter’s multi-year partnership, which brings together two cultural icons connected by a shared belief in progress.
Sabrina Carpenter said: “I adore creating little surprises for my fans, and this felt like such a cool way to bring the world of Man’s Best Friend to life. I love telling stories beyond music, so getting to put my own spin on something as iconic as the Johnnie Walker Black Label bottle was such a fun challenge. I can’t wait for everyone to see all the little details.”
The partnership, announced last August, burst into life with a global campaign celebrating the launch of Man’s Best Friend later that year. Debuting alongside the final leg of Sabrina’s Short n’ Sweet Tour, the campaign introduced fans of legal drinking age to Sabrina’s signature Johnnie Walker serve, the Go Go Highball.
The collectible bottle extends the story of the collaboration, giving fans another way to celebrate while reinforcing the Johnnie Walker connection to music as a platform for creativity, culture and progress.
The limited-edition Johnnie Walker Black Label Sabrina Carpenter bottle will be available in both 70cl and 75cl formats (40% ABV), with a recommended retail price in line with Johnnie Walker Black Label. It is available in Great Britain now before rolling out across additional markets including Mexico, India, selected markets across Europe and Asia Pacific.
For more content, please see here.
For more information contact: johnniewalker@smarts.agency
¹ IWSR 2024.
ABOUT JOHNNIE WALKER:
Johnnie Walker is the world’s number one Scotch Whisky brand* (IWSR 2024), enjoyed by people in over 160 countries. Since the time of its founder, John Walker, those who craft its whiskies have pursued flavor and quality above all else.
Today’s range of award-winning whiskies includes Johnnie Walker Red Label, Black Label, Gold Label Reserve, and Blue Label. Together, Johnnie Walker whiskies sell over 22 million cases annually (IWSR, 2024). It is the number one best-selling Scotch Whisky (IWSR, 2024) and number one trending Scotch whisky brand (Drinks International, 2025).
*According to IWSR Global Database 2025 volume for 2024
ABOUT DIAGEO:
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in nearly 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
ABOUT SABRINA CARPENTER:
Two-time GRAMMY® award winning global superstar, Sabrina Carpenter, has enchanted an audience of millions as a singer, songwriter, actress, and style icon. With her music, she has delivered one anthem after another on stage and in the studio, earning multiple gold and multi- platinum certifications, and performing to sold-out crowds worldwide. On-screen, she has generated mega-fandom through starring roles on television and film. She is signed to Island Records, where she debuted her acclaimed Gold-certified fifth studio album, “emails i can’t send”, which appeared on many “Best Of 2022” lists, including Rolling Stone and Billboard. The album features her hit single “Feather,” which went #1 at Top 40 Radio, earning Sabrina her first #1.
Her sold-out “emails i can’t send” tour took her to North America, Europe, Asia and Brazil, and she recently served as direct support for Taylor Swift in Latin America, Australia, and Singapore on the Eras Tour. In April, Sabrina made her Coachella debut and was one of the most talked-about artists of the festival. Ahead of her Coachella debut, she released her single “Espresso,” which quickly climbed the charts. Upon release, Pitchfork declared “Espresso” as “in pole position to be this year’s song of the summer,” and The New York Times heralded the single as the song ready to “propel her to the next level”. Since its release, “Espresso” has gone on to reach #1 on the UK & Australian singles charts, Top 5 in the US, and #1 on Spotify globally, where it reached over 200M streams within its first month.
Her second single, “Please Please Please,” was released in June and shot straight up to the top of the charts. The single hit #1 on Spotify’s Global and US charts, #1 on Apple Music, and debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 before claiming the #1 spot a week later and went #1 at US Pop Radio. Sabrina made her Saturday Night Live debut in May on the season finale, where she performed “Espresso” and “Feather/Nonsense.”
In August, she released her highly anticipated sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet. The album was instantly met with an outpouring of critical acclaim from the likes of the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Variety, and many more. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, making it the 3rd biggest first week debut in the US in 2024, and became only the second album that year to spend its first three weeks atop the list. “Short n’ Sweet” also topped the charts around the world, reaching #1 in the UK, Canada, Australia, Spain, and France. The album earned Sabrina an impressive six GRAMMY® nominations as a first-time nominee. “Short n’ Sweet” took home the GRAMMY® Award for Best Pop Vocal Album and Sabrina also won the “Best Pop Solo Performance” GRAMMY® Award for the album’s lead single “Espresso.” She made her debut at the 67th GRAMMY® Awards with a captivating performance of “Espresso/Please Please Please.” Last Fall, Sabrina wrapped the 33 date North American leg of her monumental sold-out Short n’ Sweet Tour and recently wrapped the sold-out European leg. Later this year, Sabrina will return for a second North America leg that includes six shows at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and five shows at Madison Square Garden in New York.
[1] Source: IWSR 2024.
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- By Sai Krishna
8, Sep 2026
Samsung’s Pioneering Foldable Vision Transforms the Global Mobile Landscape
Gurugram, Sep 08: Since Samsung Electronics pioneered the foldable phone category in 2019, the market has grown into a dynamic arena where global mobile brands now compete. To mark this milestone, Samsung has launched “Welcome to Foldables,” a large-scale digital OOH campaign featuring the Galaxy Z8 series across major cities worldwide. The campaign extends a warm welcome to a rapidly expanding market while reaffirming Samsung’s longstanding leadership in the category.
The foldable has firmly established itself as an intuitive daily companion, supported by continuous advancements in thinness, durability, multitasking, camera performance, and software optimization. This sustained progress has earned the trust of consumers worldwide. Millions of users now rely on Galaxy foldables, with the latest Galaxy Z8 series available across 106 global markets.
The global campaign is rolling out across six iconic landmarks, including Times Square in New York, Piccadilly Circus and Outernet in London, Shibuya Station in Tokyo, and COEX K-POP LIVE and KT Square in Seoul.
Through this campaign, Samsung showcases the confidence built over eight generations of engineering refinement and the enduring market leadership established under the name ‘Fold’. Samsung’s ‘Fold’ has grown into a symbol of mobile innovation and a benchmark for the foldable smartphone market.
Samsung has continually refined the foldable user experience through dedicated craftsmanship and close attention to user feedback. The Galaxy Z8 series has helped transform foldables into versatile daily essentials, combining advanced hardware engineering with software optimization, Galaxy AI integration and seamless connected experiences across the Galaxy ecosystem. This innovation heritage is brought to life through the campaign’s three central themes: ‘Ultra Thin’, ‘The World’s Lightest Fold’ and ‘Built to Outlast.’ Together, the messages reflect Samsung’s continued focus on making foldables thinner and lighter while advancing the durability expected from an everyday smartphone.
What began as a bold new form factor has grown into a category attracting greater investment from across the mobile industry. For Samsung, growing competition and consumer choice are signs of the category’s continued momentum – and new reasons to keep pushing foldable innovation forward. ‘Welcome to Foldables’ is both a welcome to that next chapter and a reminder of the generations of experience that helped bring the category here.
8, Sep 2026
OGP Introduces SmartScope E18 High-Capacity Benchtop Video Measurement System
Compact, fully automatic 3-axis system delivers expanded XY measuring range for manufacturers with limited floor space
Sept 08: Optical Gaging Products (OGP®), a leading manufacturer of precision optical and multisensor metrology systems, has introduced SmartScope® E18, a high-capacity benchtop video measurement system that delivers fully automatic 3-axis measurement performance in a compact footprint.
SmartScope E18 combines a generous XY measuring range with a space-efficient benchtop design for manufacturers that need automated dimensional inspection without dedicating significant floor space to a measurement system. Its compact design makes it well suited for production environments, quality laboratories, and other applications where available space is at a premium.
At the heart of the SmartScope E18 is OGP’s IntelliCentric™-E fixed-lens optical system, which provides high-resolution imaging for precise video measurement. VIRTUAL ZOOM™ technology further enhances image detail and measurement capability, helping operators efficiently inspect a wide range of part features.
“With its 300 x 300 mm stage in a benchtop format, SmartScope E18 brings the capabilities manufacturers need for automated video measurement into a compact and cost-effective platform,” said Shreyansh B Hippargi, Managing Director, QVI India. “By maximizing the available XY measuring range while minimizing the system footprint, the E18 gives manufacturers a practical way to increase measurement automation without compromising valuable production space.”
Advanced Illumination Comes Standard
SmartScope E18 includes a comprehensive LED lighting system as standard equipment. Coaxial, substage profile, and SmartRing™ illumination provide flexible lighting options for highlighting different part features and optimizing image contrast during measurement.
Built for Measurement Stability
A new, compact fixed-bridge design combined with a heavy-duty base provides a rigid, stable structure engineered to support accurate, repeatable measurements. The system’s orthogonal construction helps maintain measurement stability while keeping the overall footprint compact.
Multisensor Capability
For applications requiring more than video measurement, SmartScope E18 can be equipped with an optional touch probe, extending the system’s capabilities to provide multisensor measurement coverage. This allows manufacturers to combine optical and tactile measurement within a single automated platform.
With its combination of high XY capacity, automated 3-axis video measurement, advanced LED illumination, rigid construction and optional multisensor capability, SmartScope E18 provides manufacturers with a versatile inspection solution when measurement performance and floor space are equally important.
Metrology Software Capability
As with all E-Series systems, the SmartScope E18 comes standard with easy-to-use Measure-X software. For applications requiring full 3D capability and other advanced software functionality, ZONE3 software is now also available on SmartScope E-Series systems.
SmartScope E18 is available through OGP Authorized Representatives worldwide. To find your local OGP Representative, visit ogp.com/find-a-rep
8, Sep 2026
Konica Minolta Highlights Advanced High-Chroma Printing Solutions at Photo Video Asia 2026
Sep 08: Konica Minolta Business Solutions India showcased its High Chroma Printing technology at Photo Video Asia 2026, held on 30th Aug–1st Sep 2026, highlighting how its wide color gamut closer to sRGB is enabling professional photographers, Photo Album Printing Businesses and creative professionals to bring greater vibrancy, accuracy and visual impact to their prints with closer to life prints.
At the event, Konica Minolta showcased the AccurioPress C84hc and AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED, demonstrating the possibilities of advanced digital colour technology alongside high-performance production printing. The exhibit highlighted how these solutions can help businesses enhance print quality, expand creative applications and respond to the evolving demands of the photography and visual communication industry.
Speaking about the showcase, Mr. Katsuhisa Asari, Managing Director, Konica Minolta Business Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., said,
“Photography is fundamentally about capturing and bringing moments to life with the richness and emotion with which they were experienced. As expectations for print quality continue to evolve, high–chroma technology can play an important role in bridging the gap between what is captured digitally and what is brought to life in print. Through our participation at Photo Video Asia, we demonstrated how Konica Minolta’s colour technologies can help photography and creative professionals achieve more vibrant, expressive and impactful prints, while opening new possibilities for their businesses.”
Photographs capture moments that we want to remember and cherish for years. While most memories today are stored digitally, a printed photograph gives those moments a physical form that can be kept, shared and revisited anytime. Printing helps turn a digital image into something tangible and lasting.
Konica Minolta is helping bring these memories to life through its High Chroma technology solutions enabling vibrant colours, rich details and high-quality photo prints, encouraging people to move beyond screens and preserve their special moments in print.
The AccurioPress C84hc/C74hc is designed to overcome the limitations of conventional CMYK printing through High Chroma Toner technology, offering a wider colour gamut for brighter and more vivid colour output. The technology particularly enhances bright blue, greens, pinks and purples, while supporting smoother skin tones with reduced graininess. This makes the system well suited for professional photography, photobooks, photo albums, posters and other image-intensive applications.
Alongside the high–chroma solutions, the AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED showcased Konica Minolta’s advanced production print capabilities, helping businesses streamline workflows, maximise production performance and expand their application portfolio. Designed to process jobs faster and support high-quality print applications, the system enables print providers to serve more customers, enhance operational efficiency and explore new revenue opportunities, supporting sustainable business growth.
Adding to the experience, was an engaging photobooth dedicated to High Chroma, inviting visitors to capture and share their moments on social media giving them a lasting experience The initiative aimed to create an interactive brand experience while inspiring visitors to discover the enhanced vibrancy of High Chroma and the value of bringing digital memories to life through high-quality prints.
Konica Minolta’s participation at Photo Video Asia 2026 reinforced its focus on advancing digital colour technology and enabling the photography and creative industries to explore new possibilities in print. By combining high–chroma colour technology, production efficiency and application versatility, (Konica Minolta) is helping businesses transform digital images into more vibrant, impactful and commercially valuable physical experiences.
8, Sep 2026
Akoirah by Augmont Introduces ‘Sculpted by Nature’, A Contemporary Fine Jewellery Collection Inspired by Nature’s Timeless Forms
Mumbai, 8th September 2026: Nature has long been one of design’s greatest muses, inspiring architecture, fashion, interiors, and art with its effortless balance of beauty and structure. Drawing from this enduring influence, Akoirah by Augmont unveils Sculpted by Nature, a contemporary fine jewellery collection that reimagines botanical forms through sculptural silhouettes, refined craftsmanship, and laboratory-grown diamonds.
The collection celebrates the quiet elegance of nature, translating blooming petals, graceful vines, delicate leaves, and organic curves into wearable works of art. Designed for the modern consumer who values individuality as much as craftsmanship, Sculpted by Nature reflects a new perspective on fine jewellery, where timeless inspiration meets contemporary expression.
The collection features standout creations including The Diamond Cluster Studs, inspired by petals in full bloom and finished with striking pear-cut diamond drops; The Enchanted Vine Hoops, which reinterpret climbing vines through fluid, diamond-studded silhouettes; The Pear Halo Studs, a modern take on a timeless classic with layered pear-shaped brilliance; and The Botanical Laurel Ring, inspired by intertwined foliage and designed to capture nature’s graceful movement.
Crafted in recycled gold and set with laboratory-grown diamonds, each piece balances artistic design with everyday versatility. Rather than being reserved for special occasions, the collection is designed to become part of the wearer’s personal style, seamlessly transitioning from everyday dressing to celebratory moments.
Commenting on the launch, Namita Kothari, Founder, Akoirah by Augmont, said: “Nature has an effortless way of creating forms that are timeless, balanced, and endlessly inspiring. With Sculpted by Nature, we wanted to capture that beauty through a contemporary lens, creating jewellery that feels artistic, versatile, and deeply personal. Every piece is designed to celebrate craftsmanship while allowing the wearer to express their individuality, making it as relevant for everyday wear as it is for life’s special moments.”
As consumers increasingly gravitate towards jewellery that reflects their personality rather than tradition alone, design is emerging as one of the strongest differentiators in the luxury jewellery category. Today’s buyers are seeking pieces that are versatile, expressive, and thoughtfully crafted, moving beyond occasion-led purchases to jewellery that becomes part of their everyday identity.
Sculpted by Nature, Akoirah continues to redefine modern luxury by creating collections that combine contemporary design with conscious craftsmanship. Inspired by nature yet designed for today’s lifestyles, the collection offers a fresh interpretation of fine jewellery, one where every piece is intended to be worn, cherished, and collected.
8, Sep 2026
LX Pantos Successfully Completes Complex Defense Logistics Project for Advanced Weapons
SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LX Pantos (President & CEO: Lee Yong-ho) announced on September 8 that it had completed a cross-border defense logistics project for advanced weapons.
The project transported air-to-air missiles (AAMs) from France to Korea for the Republic of Korea Marine Corps’ Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) program, led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). LX Pantos carried out the project for Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
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*An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a guided missile launched from an aircraft in flight to engage an airborne target. |
The AAMs for the MAH were shipped by European defense contractor M and transported from Châteauroux Airport in France to Incheon International Airport aboard a charter flight arranged by LX Pantos. They were then delivered by road to a Republic of Korea Marine Corps unit in Pohang.
LX Pantos deployed a dedicated charter aircraft, with the missiles carried as the sole cargo to ensure safety and security. The shipment was classified as Class 1 explosives, Division 1.2, Compatibility Group E, and the missiles were subject to the highest levels of security control.
Air transportation of dangerous goods such as defense materials is a highly specialized operation that must comply with both the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations and relevant national aviation safety requirements.
During the operation, LX Pantos secured overflight clearances from 14 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia and coordinated multimodal transport through its global network, including European subsidiaries.
LX Pantos has been expanding its defense logistics business since receiving an “Excellent” rating in a 2024 security assessment by Korea’s Defense Counterintelligence Command.
It has also attained Assessment Level 3 (AL3), the highest level under Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (TISAX), demonstrating its ability to meet stringent global information security requirements.
An LX Pantos official said the project demonstrated the company’s advanced safety, security and logistics expertise, adding that LX Pantos will continue to support global defense customers and strengthen its role in the defense logistics market.
- About LX Pantos
Established in 1977, LX Pantos is a leading global logistics provider headquartered in Korea. It delivers comprehensive logistics solutions across sea, air, rail, and contract logistics through a worldwide network spanning more than 40 countries.
Learn more about LX Pantos online and follow it on LinkedIn.
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8, Sep 2026
Autoliv Advances Vehicle Safety Through Virtual Testing
STOCKHOLM, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE: ALV) (SSE: ALIVsdb), the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, is advancing the development of virtual testing through its Human Body Model (HBM) Safety Suite. The platform is designed to support the development of safer vehicles, with Toyota as the first customer onboarded to evaluate its capabilities.
Virtual testing can be used for analyzing complex crash conditions that are difficult to replicate physically. It is becoming an important complement to physical crash testing in the automotive industry, driven by shorter vehicle development cycles, evolving safety requirements, and the need for earlier insights during vehicle development.
As regulations and consumer rating programs move toward greater use of virtual methods, Autoliv supports the automotive industry to meet evolving requirements, accelerate innovation, and advance protection for a more diverse range of occupants.
Autoliv Human Body Model Safety Suite
Autoliv’s HBM Safety Suite is an integrated virtual safety platform that combines an advanced Human Body Model for crash simulation with dedicated software tools for analysis, visualization, and decision-making. The Human Body Model is a detailed digital representation of human anatomy, that can provide insights into occupant response and potential injury mechanisms that are not available from physical dummies alone.
“Virtual testing is becoming an increasingly important part of how the automotive industry advances vehicle safety. Autoliv’s HBM Safety Suite provides detailed insights into how the human body may respond in a crash, helping engineers evaluate and optimize safety performance earlier in the development process. By combining advanced Human Body Models with dedicated analysis and visualization tools, we can support the development of safer vehicles and contribute to our vision of Saving More Lives,” said Fabien Dumont, Chief Technology Officer at Autoliv.
By transforming complex simulation data into clear, actionable insights, Autoliv’s HBM Safety Suite helps to evaluate safety performance in virtual environments and optimize safety solutions for a diverse range of occupants. Used alongside physical crash testing, the platform provides additional insights into occupant response and injury mechanisms to support the development of safer vehicles, while also helping reduce lead times and enabling to improve cost efficiency.
Toyota has recently started using Autoliv’s HBM Safety Suite to evaluate its capabilities as part of its virtual safety development activities. Autoliv plans to make the platform available more broadly across the industry in 2026, supporting automakers as virtual testing becomes a more important complement to physical crash testing.
For more information about HBM Safety Suite, please visit HBM Safety Suite | Autoliv.
Images and video: Media Gallery and YouTube.
Inquiries: Autoliv.com
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8, Sep 2026
Influence is what happens after people listen’: Ranveer Allahbadia
Hyderabad, Sept 08: “Influence is not about how many people listen to you; it is about what happens after they listen.” That was the message from prominent podcaster, content creator and entrepreneur Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, at a special session on the future of digital influence organised by FLO Hyderabad at ITC Kakatiya on Monday.
Speaking at “Beyond the Algorithm: Building Influence in the Digital Age,” Allahbadia said influence should not be measured merely by followers, views or reach, but by the ability to change perspectives, inspire action and make people believe in themselves.
The 33-year-old engineer-turned-content creator was in conversation with Seetha Reddy, Chairperson, FLO Hyderabad, before an audience of more than 400 FLO members, past chairpersons of FLO and YFLO, entrepreneurs and professionals.
One of Allahbadia’s key messages to businesses was to rethink the way they approach digital marketing. “I think it is time for enterprises to create a youth department to handle such tasks,” he said, adding that young people below 25 from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities could bring a fresh perspective to digital marketing, given their familiarity with rapidly changing platforms, trends and online behaviour.
He said algorithms are changing at an extremely rapid pace and are becoming increasingly difficult and tiring to manage, making it important for organisations to bring younger perspectives into their digital strategies.
Allahbadia also identified WhatsApp marketing as an emerging area of opportunity, saying that audiences and marketers are increasingly moving beyond conventional social media platforms into more direct and demanding forms of digital engagement.
Explaining the role of different platforms, he said X drives conversation, LinkedIn builds business connections, Instagram creates visual influence, Facebook builds communities, while YouTube establishes authority through storytelling.
On the future of podcasting, Allahbadia said the space has become increasingly crowded and that there has been some decline in podcasting.
He, however, said talk shows and long-form conversations will continue to have relevance.
His advice to aspiring podcasters was to begin with short-form content before graduating to long-form conversations.
“Political podcasting is scary,” he said, referring to the challenges and sensitivities associated with the space.
Sharing a personal insight, Allahbadia said he had learnt a great deal from Priyanka Chopra after podcasting with her.
“I want to give back to society through my work by creating more jobs. I want to spread values through my work,” he said.
Looking ahead, Allahbadia identified quantum computing as one of the technologies that could have a major impact on the future, suggesting that it could dramatically expand computing capabilities.
His comments highlighted the rapidly changing technology landscape and the need for businesses and professionals to keep looking beyond today’s dominant technologies.
Speaking about Hyderabad, Allahbadia revealed that he had tried Hyderabadi biryani in Mumbai and was keen to experience the authentic version in Hyderabad.
He also invited his followers in Telangana to send him suggestions through social media and direct messages about places he should explore in the state, saying he would like to discover more of Telangana based on recommendations from his audience.
The session examined a fundamental question of the digital era: Does visibility automatically translate into influence?
For generations, influence was largely associated with institutional positions, credentials, professional achievements and years of experience. Digital platforms have dramatically changed that equation. Today, an individual with a phone, an idea and the ability to communicate can potentially reach millions.
But, as the discussion highlighted, attention is not influence, reach is not trust, and popularity is not necessarily credibility.
Speaking about the relevance of the session, Seetha Reddy, Chairperson, FLO Hyderabad, said: “Influence today is no longer something that simply comes with a position or title. The digital world rewards speed, visibility and attention. But attention is not influence, and a large audience is not necessarily trust. The real challenge is to build relevance, credibility and staying power. Influence has to be built deliberately—through what we say, what we stand for and the conversations we create.”
She said the issue was particularly relevant for women as more women take on public-facing roles as entrepreneurs, founders, professionals, spokespersons, creators and thought leaders.
“FLO believes that the ability to communicate effectively, shape conversations and establish credibility is becoming an increasingly important component of modern leadership,” she added.
The “Beyond the Algorithm” session brought together digital influence, entrepreneurship, personal branding and leadership, encouraging women to look beyond simply being visible online and focus instead on building credibility, trust and lasting impact.
8, Sep 2026
charcha 2026: India’s largest collaborative convening returns to Delhi for its 7th edition
- To be held on 15-16th September 2026 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, charcha is curated by the*spark forum to convene samaaj, sarkar and bazaar on shared problems and coordinated action toward inclusive, resilient development.
- 40 co-hosts across government, markets and civil society, including Atal Innovation Mission – NITI Aayog, Meta, DBS Foundation, PRADAN, Mahindra RISE, SEWA Bharat, Meesho, American India Foundation, the Gates Foundation, Lend A Hand India, J-PAL, Pratham, Eternal, Central Square Foundation, YuWaah (UNICEF) among others and 200+ speakers over two days.
- Eight fronts of collective action, new participatory formats and the Bharat AI Experiential Centre, co-created with Jan AI.
NEW DELHI, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — charcha returns for its seventh edition on September 15-16, 2026, at the India Habitat Centre. Curated by the*spark forum, charcha is India’s largest collaborative convening on livelihoods. It brings samaaj, sarkar and bazaar to the same table to work on problems none of them can solve alone.
Over two days, charcha 2026 will feature 200+ speakers and 40 co-hosts across 50+ hours of programming. Programming runs along eight fronts: Philanthropy & CSR, Tech4good, Inclusive Livelihoods, Policy & Governance, Entrepreneurship & Informal Livelihoods, Rural & Agri Livelihoods, Education and Skilling, and Climate & Green Jobs.
Jerold Pereira, Managing Director, the*spark forum says:
“India’s hardest problems don’t sit inside samaaj, sarkar or bazaar. They sit in the gaps between them. These gaps do not close because one side works harder. They close only when the people who can actually act on a problem are in the same room, at the same time and are willing to do something collaboratively and differently. This room does not build itself. Someone has to convene it, and keep convening it, until convening to find collaborative solutions stops being an ‘event’ and becomes a habit.”
The 40 co-hosts span the width of the sector, with this edition drawing a deeper and more varied participation from the social sector than any before it. From government and public institutions: Atal Innovation Mission – NITI Aayog and eGov Foundation. From markets: Meta, Meesho, Eternal, Mahindra Rise and WhatsApp. From philanthropy: the Gates Foundation, DBS Foundation, Atlassian Foundation, AIF, Central Square Foundation and The Bridgespan Group. And from across civil society, research and implementation: BAIF, ek kutumb, EkStep, Generation India, GAME, IDEA, Jan AI, J-PAL, Janaagraha, Kaabil, KhushiBaby, Lend A Hand India, Magic Bus, MITTI Café, NuSocia, PCI India, Pradan, Pratham, RestoringVision, Samagra, Sattva, SEWA Bharat, Sol’s ARC and YuWaah, The/Nudge, the^delta and the*spark.
Shri Rohit Kansal IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development – Government of India, adds:
“charcha 2026 comes at a moment when technology, markets and society are being reshaped at unprecedented speed. Its strength lies in bringing policy, practice and business onto one platform. It is through such dialogue that ideas and policy can translate into partnerships, and partnerships into outcomes at scale.”
Speakers span all three sectors. From government and policy, charcha 2026 will see Hon’ble Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; Hon’ble Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; Hon’ble S. Niranjan Reddy, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Hon’ble K.T. Rama Rao, Member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly; Rohit Kansal, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development – Govt of India, Dr. R Balasubramaniam, Member, NITI Aayog – Govt of India, and Sri Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka to name a few. From markets and business: Vidit Aatrey (Co-founder & CEO, Meesho), Anjalli Ravi Kumar (Chief Sustainability Officer, Eternal), Prabhakar L (Exec VP and Head – Social Investments at ITC Limited), Mohit Bhatnagar (MD, Peak XV) and Divya Khemani (Strategic Programs & Partnerships Lead, Meta). And from civil society, philanthropy and research: Padma Shri Renana Jhabvala (SEWA), Mekin Maheshwari (Founder & CEO, Udhyam Learning Foundation), Manu Chopra (Co-Founder & CEO, Karya), Shobhini Mukerji (Executive Director, J-PAL), Jayant Rastogi (Global CEO, Magic Bus India Foundation), Alina Alam (Founder & CEO, MITTI Café), Gaurav Goel (Founder & CEO, Samagra), Srikanth Viswanathan (CEO, Janaagraha), Azeez Gupta (Co-Founder, Rocket Learning), Madan Padaki (Managing Trustee, Jan AI) and Rathish Balakrishnan (Co-Founder & Partner, Sattva Consulting) – among more than 200 voices across the two days.
Renana Jhabvala, Chairperson, SEWA Bharat, states:
“I have spent fifty years watching what changes a poor woman’s life, and brings her onto an upward track. As a worker, as a woman, she is at the base of the socio-economic pyramid, and so to bring her up the pyramid, to flatten and make it more equal requires change of the ecosystem around her. This requires a joint effort of civil society, government and the private sector understanding the need for change, the levers of change and co-operating together towards change. That is where charcha leads.”
charcha is also its texture. The Bharat AI Experiential Centre, co-created with Jan AI, lets participants walk through one rural household’s day – a crop advisory at dawn, a symptom check in the evening – each running on intelligence infrastructure built for Bharat from the start, rather than retrofitted onto it. Laid out as thematic huts covering health, market linkages and financial access, education, employability and entrepreneurship, agri and rural livelihoods, and a village square, the Centre brings together Wadhwani AI, Piramal Foundation, ITC MAARS, Meesho, Leap 300, Noora Health, Rocket Learning, Karya, Haqdarshak | DBS Foundation, EkStep Foundation, Jan AI and the Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, across 15+ solution exhibitions and six AI-specific sessions. Networking across the two days is curated by MASH, alongside performances, screenings and sidebar gatherings.
Vidit Aatrey, Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Meesho, notes:
“Technology can be a powerful equaliser when it removes the barriers that prevent people from participating in the digital economy. The next phase of India’s growth will depend on making technology simpler, more accessible and more relevant to people, regardless of geography, language or scale. At Meesho, we have seen how expanding access can enable entrepreneurs and small businesses across India to reach customers, grow their businesses and build sustainable livelihoods. Building on this progress requires businesses, government and civil society to work together to create an ecosystem that enables broader participation. Platforms like Charcha 2026 play an important role in bringing these perspectives together and translating shared ideas into collective action.”
Since 2020, charcha has convened 15,000+ attendees and 1,000+ speakers across six editions. The 2026 edition widens that table to 40 co-hosts and eight fronts, at a moment when India’s demographic dividend peaks in 2040 and the decisions taken between now and then are the ones that compound through 2047.
ThePrint is the official media partner for charcha 2026. Teamwork Arts is the line producer. For more information and registration, visit charcha26. thespark.org.in
About the*spark forum
the*spark forum is India’s leading platform for dialogue and collaboration on livelihoods, curating cross-sector convenings that build alignment infrastructure across government, markets, and civil society, toward a poverty-free India.
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8, Sep 2026
Xinhua Silk Road: City marathon in NE China’s Shenyang draws running-lovers from home and abroad
BEIJING, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Shengjing Bank Shenyang Marathon 2026 kicked off on Sunday morning, attracting around 22,000 running enthusiasts from home and abroad to the increasingly international event in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province in northeast China.
The full marathon drew 10,000 runners and the half marathon 12,000, all starting from the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center early on September 6.
In the men’s full marathon, a Kenyan runner won the top honor, while the women’s race was won by an Ethiopian runner. In the half marathon races, both men’s and women’s titles were won by Chinese runners, Zhang Xiaorui and Zhao Na.
While offering a platform for speed competition, the city marathon of Shenyang also deployed 30 first-aid-certified runners to accompany elderly runners, visually impaired participants and wheelchair athletes.
Via such heartwarming accompaniment, Shenyang’s city marathon well demonstrated how a sports event can highlight the spirit of equality, courage and mutual care.
This year’s Shenyang marathon featured northeastern Chinese dialect-style slogans along the racing routes milestones, such as “Laotie never gives up”, to encourage runners to persevere.
These slogans full of local language characteristics not only presented the typical characters of northeastern Chinese such as straightforwardness, optimism, resilience and hard work, but also echoed the energetic trackside local cheering teams.
Staging heavy industry-themed dances, Yangge folk dances and other performances along the routes, the “Laotie cheering teams” meaning buddies-like cheering teams created an immersive experience of citywide cheering.
Among the multiple sites with cheering teams, a 100-meter-long “cheering corridor” on a local bridge over the Hun River impressed runners with large crowds of local citizens also basking in Shenyang’s enthusiasm.
As every participant of the event was given a local “cultural tourism passport”, they could opt for city walks to visit a dozen popular attractions in Shenyang.
Free to visit the Shenyang Imperial Palace, Zhang Xueliang’s Former Residence Museum, and Shenyang Financial Museum from September 5 to 11, the runners from China and abroad may find the “Laotie-level” tourism services there more than hospitable.
Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/352088.html
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