The Navhind Times

Four other occupants sustain serious injuries Ponda: A group of five youths returning home in a car after a business-related trip to Maharashtra met with an accident barely 500 metres from their destination, leaving one dead and four others seriously injured in the early hours of Sunday. The accident occurred around 1 am on the []

Panaji: A warning message communicated to Shrinivas Nayak, director of Majestic Pride Group, over a month ago turned out to be true last Friday night when two assailants fired multiple bullets at him, sources told The Navhind Times. Luckily, Nayak escaped unhurt. The Majestic Pride Group runs onshore and offshore casinos in the state. While []

Goa does not require melting glaciers to produce catastrophic floods; extreme rainfall, sediment mobilisation, unstable slopes, and densely occupied floodplains would be sufficient The catastrophic Nepal flood of August 26, 2026, carries an important warning for Goa, provided we understand the comparison correctly. Goa has no glaciers, permafrost, or snow-fed Himalayan rivers. Nepals disaster originated []

The Mango House, Merces, a design-led non-profit enterprise creates livelihood for local women by providing training and upskilling for traditional skills like crochet, writes Shahin Bepari Lambe The Mango House, a Panaji-based enterprise working towards women empowerment is creating income opportunities for local women by combining traditional Goan craft skills with entrepreneurship. The handcrafts products []

LIC Housing Finance, Canara Bank and Union Bank of India have opposed Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandras repayment plan in his personal insolvency case and will challenge its approval by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) before an appellate tribunal. The three organizations said they collectively accounted for 8.45 percent of the voting share in []

Prof. DM Deshpande The Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare submitted its 176th Report to Parliament recently. The title of the report, Affordability and Accessibility of Healthcare Facilities in Public and Private Sector, aptly highlights the twin problems faced by patients in India. Private healthcare facilities are expensive, especially when per capita incomes are []

V B Prabhu Verlekar Q. A Goa political leader reportedly visited London at the invitation of a Goa-for-Goans Association registered in the UK. The association reportedly collected 10,000 through donations from foreign citizens as well as NRIs to support the forthcoming Goa Assembly elections. Can such funds legally be used for election purposes in Goa []

They edge past Damodar HSS Gudi-Paroda via penalties in final Bambolim: Vasantrao Dempo Higher Secondary School, Cujira, were crowned state champions in the U-17 Boys Subroto Mukherjee Cup after edging Damodar Higher Secondary School, Gudi-Paroda, 4-2 on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw at Atal Stadium on National Sports Day. Damodar made a flying start []

Eva stars as Fatorda side outplays St Marys HS Mapusa in final Panaji: Don Bosco Sports Academy, Fatorda recovered from an early deficit to beat St. Marys Girls High School, Mapusa 23-15 and lift the girls title at the Group Priority State Sub Junior Basketball Championship 2026 at Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim. St. Marys made []

Gawalis men eye winning start in AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers Tashkent: India will begin their AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifying campaign against Syria at the Dostlik Stadium here on Monday. India are in Group B alongside hosts Uzbekistan and Bangladesh, with only the group winners and seven best runners-up across the eight []

Blue Material, Indias first Dalit-led, queer-affirmative comedy collective, will perform in Goa today as part of its Recording Tour 2026 CHRISTINE MACHADO While caste is by no means an unfamiliar term in India, discussions today tend to centre on politics, reservations, and related issues. Its very one-dimensional. But there is much more to our existence, []

Disaster devastates towns & villages, washes away critical bridges Kathmandu: Nearly 100 people were killed and over 750, including 133 Indian nationals, remain missing after a massive flash flood originating in Tibet swept through central Nepal on Wednesday, devastating several towns and villages, washing away critical bridges, and crippling a dozen hydropower projects. Nepal Foreign []

Sharp decline reported during April-June Panaji: The international passenger traffic from Dabolim airport has plunged by 69 per cent, just as it has dipped by 42 per cent at Mopa airport during April-June, thus being among the steepest declines recorded across Indian airports. At the national level, the international traffic from India dropped by 10 []

Panaji: The water supply from the Tillari Dam to three major talukas in North Goa namely Pernem, Bardez and Bicholim will remain suspended for three months as Maharashtra is undertaking repair works on the canal network, which could bring about hardship to the people. Minister for Water Resources Subhash Shirodkar said a pipeline linked to []

Pernem: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said the martyrs memorial at Patradevi is not merely a monument of stone, but a living symbol of Indias collective national consciousness and an eternal testament to the fact that India is a living, breathing nation whose soul cannot be divided. Speaking after inaugurating the Hutatma Smruti Smarak, []

Panaji: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set aside the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authoritys (GCZMA) approval for 25 temporary cottages and a shack at Agonda, saying the authority had failed to explain why it disregarded its own beach carrying capacity report, which prescribed zero carrying capacity for shacks at Agonda beach. The matter concerned []

Panaji: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has alleged a Rs 2,147-crore scam in the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department, citing observations of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and demanded an investigation into the alleged revenue loss caused by granting an additional 20 per cent floor area ratio (FAR) to commercial establishments free of []

Roque Dias Margao: Political analysts, experts, opposition legislators and activists across Salcete taluka have questioned the need for the Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2026, citing the absence of historical records or documented cases of forced or unlawful religious conversions in the state. The State Cabinet recently approved the Bill, which is []

Margao: The Muslim community celebrated Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi in Margao on Wednesday, marking the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. A julus (procession) commenced from the historic Sunni Jama Masjid in Malbhat, Margao. Hundreds of devotees participated, making their way through the town before culminating at the SGPDA ground in Fatorda. Participants waved flags and chanted devotional verses []

Oakland(US): Meta has agreed to pay USD 17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced on Wednesday. California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 states that sued the []

Nashville: Dolly Parton, the country music icon whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, has died in Nashville. She was 80 years old. Known for her curvy physique, massive blond wigs and skin-tight outfits that []

Underground cabling, improved lighting, landscaping planned Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said the Goa Medical College (GMC) campus will soon be developed into a five-star campus with underground cabling, improved lighting, landscaping, parking and other facilities through the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC). He added that all efforts would be made to []

Lucknow: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday said Indian electronic voting machines (EVMs) are manufactured by public sector companies and do not have internet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connectivity. During his two-day visit to Lucknow, Kumar interacted with students at the historic Colvin Taluqdars College and discussed Indias democratic system, the electoral process, the reliability []

Pan-India crackdown on Rs 30K-cr transactions Panaji: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Panaji zonal office, has arrested two brothers from MumbaiFahim Moin Hussain Sayed and Naim Mueen Sayyedin connection with a money laundering investigation into a large-scale digital arrest cyber frauds, including one in the state. The victim, a senior citizen from Goa, was duped []

Rise in infections forces parents to keep children away from school Shahin Bepari Lambe Panaji: Flu cases in Goa this year have almost doubled compared to 2025, with paediatricians and physicians reporting a sharp surge in viral fever, cough, cold, throat infections, and other flu-like symptoms among both children and adults. Porvorim-based paediatrician Dr Pinky []

NT Reporter Vasco Vasco Police traced three minor children reported missing during the annual Saptah Fair and reunited them with their families, while an 80-year-old man who went missing in the crowd was also traced and reunited with his family. The Saptah Fair, which began last week, attracts thousands of visitors from Goa and neighbouring []

NT Reporter Panaji Valpoi has crossed the 100-inch rainfall mark, recording 2,543.7 mm of rain since June 1, making it the first of the major rain-gauge stations to cross the three-digit rainfall mark. Widespread rainfall over the past two days has helped the states overall monsoon deficit ease to 29.8 per cent on Monday. Dharbandora, []

NT Reporter Panaji In a suo motu public interest litigation concerning illegal hoardings along state and national highways, the High Court has directed the authorities concerned to file a detailed, jurisdiction-wise list of illegal hoardings still standing in village panchayats and municipal areas across the State. The Court ordered the respondent authorities to map existing []

Shoma Patnaik Panaji Goas paddy output increased marginally to 1.17 lakh tonnes in 2025-26 from 1.14 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, with the increase attributed to a modest improvement in yield and higher production during the kharif season. Production during the rabi season remained more or less stagnant at 3.7 lakh tonnes. According to the latest []

NT Reporter Mapusa Upset over inflated electricity bills, Colvale residents staged a protest at the Electricity Department office in Mapusa on Monday. The residents demanded that the department issue monthly bills instead of sending bills for 45-55 days, as consumers have to bear a higher burden when bills attract a higher slab. The villagers warned []

NT Reporter Ponda The latest detailed project report (DPR) presented by National Highway officials has failed to convince protesting villagers of Bhoma, who have remained firm on their demand for a bypass instead of a flyover for the proposed highway expansion. The presentation, conducted in compliance with the High Court direction, once again left villagers []

PTI Chennai The Tamil Nadu government has issued work orders for nearly 1.28 lakh gold rings, costing approximately Rs 220 crore, to two jewellery retail chains under the Maternal uncle gold ring scheme for newborns, a poll promise made by TVK, an official said on Saturday. Over one lakh gold rings are required to implement []

PTI New Delhi Passengers flying out of Indian airports will no longer be required to carry a physical boarding pass, as immigration authorities have decided to do away with the stamping of this document from September 1, officials said on Saturday. Instead, passengers travelling abroad will have to produce an e-boarding pass on their smartphones []

NT Reporter Panaji Goa recorded 169 road accidents per lakh population in 2024, the highest rate among all states and Union territories nationally, ahead of Kerala (136) and Tamil Nadu (88). While Goa may not lead India in terms of total road accidents by absolute vehicle volume, it consistently lands in the top five states []

NT Reporter Ponda Goa Forward Party (GFP) president Vijai Sardesai, at a meeting in Mollem on Saturday warned thatif pending payments tosugarcane farmers werenot cleared before the Assembly session, the party would bring sugarcane to the Assembly to highlight the issue. Sardesai visited villages in the Sanvordem constituency as part of the partys Jai Gaon, []

NT Reporter Panaji The District and Sessions Court, North Goa has rejected bail applications of Zakaulla Khazi (21) from Caranzalem and Riyan Bagwan (18) from Tonca in connection with June case of alleged trespass and assault at a Caranzalem guest house. The order was passedon Friday. The court observed that in view of the gravity []

NT Reporter Ponda A tense exchange between Aframent-Shirshirem residents and Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar over water-related issues and the naming of their internal road as NH 566 was brought under control after Shirodkar assured the residents that their grievances would be heard and addressed. The confrontation took place after the inauguration-related programme for the []

NT Reporter Margao The Global Romi Lipi Abhiyan (GRLA), while congratulating the Tiatr Academy of Goa and the Tiatr fraternity on Tiatr being recognised nationally as an element of Indias Intangible Cultural Heritage, said the recognition should also lead to equal recognition for the RomiKonkani script. This is a proud moment for Goa and a []

DR. R. G. WISEMAN PINTO Cancer often begins insidiously and without pain. However, in stages III and IV, many patients develop significant, sometimes excruciating pain. It may result from a tumour growing rapidly and stretching or infiltrating surrounding tissues. It can also arise from diagnostic procedures, treatment, involvement of the skin and nerves, hormonal changes []

PTI New Delhi In a major relief to law graduates, the Supreme Court on Friday reduced to a year the earlier mandatory requirement of three-year legal practice for them to take entry level judicial service examination. However, the selected candidates will have to undergo training at the judicial academy and a further one-year clerkship, a []

NT Reporter Pernem Chief Minister Pramod Sawant called upon the younger generation to shoulder the responsibility of building a developed India, saying the benefits of the countrys progress would largely belong to Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Addressing a gathering on Independence Day at the historic Patradevi memorial, where 33 freedom fighters were martyred in []

PTI New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged political parties to rise above differences to help secure 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures, called on the youth to take the lead in building a developed India, and warned that armed Naxalism has been eliminated but dimagi Naxals still lurked. In his []

NT Reporter Panaji Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said the Goa Human Resource Development will create 6,000 to 8,000 jobs in the next six months, and linked the job creation to wider efforts on infrastructure, connectivity and cultural preservation. Addressing the people during the 80th Independence Day celebrations held near the old secretariat, the []

NT Reporter Panaji Goa recorded 40 cases of crime against foreign tourists between 2022 and 2024, with the police filing chargesheets in 28 cases. Trials were completed in four cases, resulting in two convictions, according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on August 13 by Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Shekhawat said tourism, including []

Abdul Wahab Khan Panaji A bacterium living on jellyfish found off the Goa coast has emerged as a promising source of a biodegradable polymer after researchers isolated it from Chrysaora and demonstrated its ability to rapidly produce exopolysaccharide (EPS), a class of biopolymers with potential applications ranging from food and cosmetics to pharmaceuticals and environmental []

As Goa prepares for ST reservation in four Assembly constituencies, questions arise over representation,political opportunity, rotation and whether the system will benefit those most in need MITHIL FALDESAI Four of Goas 40 Assembly constituencies are expected to be reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates in the upcoming election. This is exactly 10% of the Assembly, []

NT Reporter Margao The Benaulim BlockCongress on Saturday launched a drive to collect relief materials for people affected by floods in Assam, with the materials to becollected at its office from August 15 to 21. The drive was launched during a programme at the Benaulim Block Congress Office, where two young entrepreneurs, Lessley Pereira and []

NT Reporter Bicholim Mayem MLA Premendra Shet on Saturday said people should be aware of their responsibility towards serving the nation, while Bicholim MLADr Chandrakant Shetye called for unity and secularism to strengthen the country. Shet hoisted the Tricolour at a function organised by the Deputy Collectors office in the presence ofShetye. People should be []

NT Reporter Margao Benaulim AAP MLA Venzy Viegas on Saturday said citizens must question the government over their rights, while raising concerns over land conversion, paper leaks and the state of health and education. Speaking after unfurling the national flag at his office on Independence Day, Viegas said, For 79 years the national flag is []

Agencies New Delhi Days after the Bar Council of India (BCI) ordered State Bar Councils to freeze the enrolment of NALSARs entire 2026 graduating batch, only to withdraw the move following widespread criticism and a rebuke from the Supreme Court, BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra has apologised to law students and said they must always []