MANILA, Philippines — Sister teams ZUS Coffee and Farm Fresh on Friday unveiled their respective imports ahead of October’s PVL Reinforced Conference.
ZUS Coffee signed American outside spiker Anna DeBeer, while Farm Fresh tapped former Belgium national team player Helene Rousseaux.
READ: PVL: Riza Nogales, ZUS’ third-round pick shows upside
ZUS made back-to-back playoff runs in recent seasons, aiming to build on their strong performance with the addition of DeBeer.
President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and his wife, who serves as co-president, have been arresting longtime loyalists.
This move appears to be part of an effort to ensure that no one outside the family rises to power.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/world/americas/nicaragua-ortega-arrests.html
**Trump Seeks to Reclaim Taliban-Conquered Air Base in Afghanistan**
Former President Donald Trump has expressed intentions to reclaim Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which was recently taken over by the Taliban. Citing strategic concerns, Trump highlighted the air base’s proximity to China as a key motivation behind this proposed move. According to him, Bagram is located approximately an hour away from a site where China is reportedly developing nuclear weapons.
*Caption: A Taliban soldier enters a helicopter at Bagram Air Base in Parwan, Afghanistan, September 23, 2021.*
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-868131
**Hezbollah Chief Naim Qassem Urges Saudi Arabia to Reconcile Amid Escalating Strikes in Southern Lebanon**
Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem has called on Saudi Arabia to reconcile and unite against Israel as strikes escalate in southern Lebanon. He emphasized the importance of opening a new chapter in relations between Riyadh and Hezbollah, highlighting the need for solidarity in the face of ongoing conflict.
Qassem stressed that Hezbollah’s arms are aimed solely at Israel, underscoring the group’s focus on responding to Israeli actions in the region.
His appeal comes amid intense Israeli raids that have resulted in civilian casualties, despite existing ceasefire terms. The situation remains volatile, with growing calls for unity among opposing sides.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/hezbollah-urges-saudi-arabia-to-reconcile-and-unite-against-israel-amid-lebanon-strikes-23594940
Bhavnagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 34,200 crore at the ‘Samudra se Samriddhi’ event in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar.
As part of the maritime sector initiatives, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth over Rs 7,870 crore, including the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock. He also laid the foundation stone of a new container terminal and associated facilities at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata; new container berth, cargo handling facilities, and associated developments at Paradip Port; the Tuna Tekra Multi-Cargo Terminal; firefighting facilities and modern road connectivity at Kamarajar Port, Ennore; coastal protection works including sea-walls and revetments at Chennai Port; sea-wall construction at Car Nicobar Island; a multi-purpose cargo berth and Green Bio-Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla; and ship repair facilities at Patna and Varanasi.
In line with his commitment to holistic and sustainable development, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over Rs 26,354 crore, jointly undertaken by the central and state governments, catering to various sectors in Gujarat.
He inaugurated the HPLNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara Port, the Acrylics & Oxo Alcohol Project at Gujarat IOCL Refinery, the 600 MW Green Shoe Initiative, the PM-KUSUM 475 MW Component C solar feeder for farmers, the 45 MW Badeli Solar PV Project, and the complete solarisation of Dhordo village, among others.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation for LNG infrastructure, additional renewable energy projects, coastal protection works, highways, and healthcare and urban transport projects. These include expansions at Sir T. General Hospital in Bhavnagar, Guru Govind Sinh Government Hospital at Jamnagar, and the four-laning of 70 km of national highways.
During the event, the Prime Minister was felicitated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Earlier in the day, he inspected an exhibition organized as part of ‘Samudra se Samriddhi’ and held a roadshow in Bhavnagar.
*Note: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pm-modi-inaugurates-mumbai-cruise-terminal-deendayal-port-facilities-and-multiple-green-energy-projects
**Amazon Doubles Same and Next Day Deliveries in Assam, Sees Surge in Demand for Premium Products**
Guwahati: E-commerce giant Amazon has announced a significant increase in its operations in Assam, reporting that it has doubled its product deliveries in the same and next-day categories within the state. This growth is accompanied by a rising demand for premium products among customers in the region.
According to a company official, more than 10,000 sellers from Assam have benefited through Amazon’s platform, reaching out to customers across India. Pallavi Singh, Senior Manager of Amazon Prime India, stated, “Amazon India is gearing up to meet rising customer demand in Assam, especially Guwahati, bringing customers unmatched value, speed, and selection.”
Singh highlighted that this festive season, there is a noticeable preference for premium products in the fashion and beauty categories among Guwahati shoppers. She elaborated, “Watches and luxury beauty products are seeing a 30 percent year-on-year growth, driven by demand for metal strap digital and analog watches and moisture-rich beauty products. Demand for jewellery in Assam is also on the rise, growing 20 percent year-on-year, with traditional Assamese designs continuing to be a customer favourite.”
With Durga Puja approaching, Singh noted a spike in searches for complete beauty looks on Amazon. Furthermore, contemporary jewellery and luxury beauty products are gaining higher traction during the wedding season.
Other popular product categories among buyers in Assam include smartphones, consumer electronics, fashion and beauty items, home and kitchen products, groceries, and everyday essentials.
Singh also emphasized that Amazon empowers over 10,000 sellers from Assam who sell across various categories such as home goods, groceries, and toys to customers nationwide. Additionally, the company is generating hundreds of new job opportunities in the region.
Amazon’s operational network in Assam now includes one new fulfilment centre, one sortation centre, more than 200 I Have Space (IHS) stores, and over 50 delivery stations. “These investments have enabled Amazon to deliver more than twice as many products year-on-year with same and next-day delivery options in Guwahati,” Singh said.
Looking ahead, Amazon is preparing to launch its ‘Amazon Great Indian Festival’ starting September 23. Customers can expect the widest product selection at competitive prices, coupled with fast delivery services. Prime members will enjoy exclusive benefits, including additional offers and early 24-hour access to deals.
*Disclaimer: This story is sourced from a syndicated feed. No changes have been made except to the headline.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/amazon-doubles-product-deliveries-in-the-same-next-day-categories-in-assam-registering-demand-hike-for-premium-commodities
Third-seeded Alexander Bublik will face Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in the second round of the 2025 Hangzhou Open on Saturday, September 20.
Having previously struggled for motivation, Bublik has hit a rich vein of form following his maiden Major quarterfinal run at the French Open. Currently ranked World No. 19, he has won 16 of his last 19 matches on the ATP Tour, capturing three titles in the process.
Having received a first-round bye in Hangzhou, the 28-year-old will be eager to pick up his first hardcourt title since winning the 2024 Open de Sud France last February.
Vukic, meanwhile, has not enjoyed the same level of success as Bublik recently, as reflected in his 10-23 win/loss record on the ATP Tour this year. Before this week, the 29-year-old had dropped his last five hardcourt main draw tour-level matches, including a first-round exit at the US Open.
However, that did not deter World No. 93 Vukic, who fought hard in his first-round match at the Hangzhou Open on Friday, defeating former World No. 7 David Goffin 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.
Vukic holds a slight edge over Bublik with a 2-1 lead in their ATP Tour head-to-head meetings. The Australian defeated his younger rival in their only tour-level hardcourt encounter at the 2022 Adelaide International 2.
Notably, Bublik won their most recent match on the hardcourts of the Phoenix Challenger; however, this does not count towards their official ATP record.
All betting odds sourced from BetMGM.
Bublik’s game has been flowing freely in recent months, making him one of the most dangerous players on the ATP Tour. When he’s on, his serves and forehands consistently find the court for winners.
Although standing at 6’5″, Bublik’s movement can be somewhat sheepish, but his anticipation and court IQ allow him to maintain solid footing during longer rallies.
Vukic does not possess the same level of power as Bublik but compensates with impressive footspeed. However, simply chasing down balls and hoping for errors is not an effective strategy against a shotmaker of Bublik’s caliber — especially on the fast hardcourts of Hangzhou.
Pick: Alexander Bublik to win in straight sets.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/hangzhou-open-2025-alexander-bublik-vs-aleksandar-vukic-preview-head-to-head-prediction-odds-pick
The Pittsburgh Pirates suffered their fifth consecutive defeat following a narrow 4-3 loss to the Athletics on Friday.
This latest setback means the Pirates are now on track to finish at the bottom of the National League Central division.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-lot-guys-taking-look-mirror-pirates-paul-skenes-brutally-calls-teammates-accountability-disappointing-2025-performance
In 2007, Peru’s Machu Picchu Inca sanctuary was designated as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World after receiving more than 100 million votes in a global competition.
Now, the New7Wonders project, which organized the vote, warns that Machu Picchu is at risk of losing its credibility as one of the wonders. This is due to issues such as overtourism, limited conservation policies, and social conflicts, among others.
The organization emphasized that the fate of Machu Picchu depends on the country’s key decision-makers. These leaders have reportedly received proposals to implement a strategic transformation plan aimed at protecting and preserving the site.
When asked if Machu Picchu could lose its spot on the list and whether a different site might take its place, New7Wonders responded that it is too soon to discuss the process, how it would work, or if it would happen at all.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/perus-machu-picchu-could-lose-wonder-of-the-world-tag-due-to-tourism-social-conflicts-23594920
**Kerala’s Maritime Economy Gets a Rs 7,288 Crore Boost at ‘Blue Tides’ EU Conclave**
*Thiruvananthapuram:* Kerala’s maritime economy has received a significant boost with investment proposals worth Rs 7,288 crore emerging from the two-day Kerala-European Union conclave, ‘Blue Tides’, held recently in Kovalam. Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian announced this development during the conclave’s valedictory session on Friday.
The proposals were submitted by 28 investors, reflecting strong interest in Kerala’s fisheries and maritime sectors. The European Union, a key partner of the conclave alongside the Government of India, urged Kerala to establish a dedicated platform for sustained engagement with EU countries, Minister Cherian added.
“This conclave has not only achieved what it set out to do, but its outcome has exceeded expectations and set an example for the country,” said Cherian. He emphasized that the event marks the beginning of a significant push for the growth and modernization of Kerala’s fisheries sector.
Cherian also highlighted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s inaugural remarks, wherein the CM pointed out that the conclave had opened doors for innovation and sustainable, inclusive development of both the seas and the coastline.
During the event, 28 investors signed expressions of interest, signalling their commitment to future collaboration.
European Union Ambassador to India, Herve Delphin, also addressed the conclave, sharing insights on the discussions held with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The ambassadors put forward a proposal to create an engagement platform with EU states, as part of ‘Team Europe’s’ efforts to explore multiple avenues for cooperation with Kerala.
Delphin noted that the conclave was viewed as a continuation of the global ‘blue economy’ summit held earlier this year in France. His team made considerable progress during dialogues with Kerala officials, identifying opportunities for collaboration, especially in healthcare and information technology sectors.
Recalling the panel discussions, Kerala Chief Secretary Dr. A Jayathilak pointed out that key topics included sustainability, advanced technology, climate change resilience, and global cooperation on logistics.
Kerala’s special representative in New Delhi, Professor K V Thomas, acknowledged the challenges faced leading up to the conclave but praised the strong support from the Chief Minister and the organizational capabilities of Minister Cherian for successfully hosting the event.
The conclave ‘Blue Tides’ signals a new chapter for Kerala’s fisheries and maritime industries, positioning the state as a promising hub for sustainable blue economy initiatives in collaboration with international partners.
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*Disclaimer: This story is sourced from a syndicated feed. Only the headline has been modified.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/keralas-maritime-economy-soars-with-7288-crore-investment-proposals-at-union-conclave
