Page 18 - Goa

Police recovers 'incriminating materials' from club at Anjuna beach in Goa

"Incriminating materials" have been recovered from a club at Anjuna beach in North Goa during a probe into a drug case, police said. The club was raided on Saturday after two drug peddlers arrested recently claimed during interrogation that drugs were sold there, Deputy Superintendent of Police Jivba Dalvi said. "Many incriminating materials were seized and sent for forensic examination as they are suspected to have traces of drugs, he added.

Pak foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto arrives in India to attend SCO meet

Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrived in Goa on Thursday to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), in the first such high-level visit to India from the neighbouring country since 2011. Bhutto Zardari's visit comes amid continued strain in ties between India and Pakistan on a number of issues including Islamabad's continued support to cross-border terrorism. People familiar with the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) conclave preparations said there is no plan for a bilateral meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Bhutto Zardari so far as there was no request for it from the Pakistani side. "On my way to Goa, India. Will be leading the Pakistan delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization CFM. My decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan's strong commitment to the charter of the SCO," Bhutto Zardari tweeted ahead of his arrival here. "During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, I lo

SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting to kick off in Goa today; all you must know

Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto will also attend the meeting but it is unclear if he and Jaishankar would conduct a bilateral meeting or not

Get 'labour cards': 90% of crimes in Goa due to migrant labourers, says CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that about 90 per cent of the crimes in the coastal state are committed by migrant labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other areas, urging contractors to obtain "labour cards" before employing them. Sawant made the claim at a Labour Day function on May 1 in Panaji. The chief minister said that every migrant labourer working in the state should have a labour card given by the state government. The Goa government issues labour cards to those working in the private, unorganised and industrial sectors to keep a record of employment as well as extend welfare measures to this category. Sawant said that it is necessary to track the details of labourers as after committing a crime in Goa, migrant labourers often return to their state and it becomes difficult to locate them. The chief minister said that about 90 per cent of the crimes in Goa are committed by migrant labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other areas. Sawant said that the stat

Maximum crimes in Goa are committed by migrant labourers: CM Sawant

Sawant speaking during a Labour Day program in the state capital, said that every labourer coming to Goa should have a labour card

Goa beaches to get trained dogs, AI-powered systems for safety operations

A team of 11 dogs, called the 'paw squad', is being trained, and it is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Asia

Obtain fresh environment clearances: HC to bidders of Goa's mining blocks

The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday ordered the successful bidders of the recently-auctioned mining blocks in the state to obtain fresh environmental clearances (ECs). A division bench comprising Justices Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki Menezes of the high court passed the order. The ruling is likely to delay the resumption of the state's iron ore mining operations that came to a standstill in 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases. In December last year, the Goa government had said that it completed the first phase of auction of mining blocks with four companies winning bids for the extraction of ore from different mineral rich stretches of the coastal state. The mining industry used to be one of the major revenue earners for the state. "We clarify that fresh ECs will have to be obtained even by the successful bidders...," the high court said in its order. The Goa Foundation had submitted an intervention application over a petition filed by mining firm ...

Regional airline Fly91 receives govt approval, targets Oct launch

Goa-based carrier is promoted by former executives of Fairfax and Kingfisher

Skill development is primary focus under Swayampurna Goa 2.0: CM Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said skill development is one of the primary focus areas under the state government's Swayampurna Goa 2.0 initiative. Speaking at the launch of a booklet by the Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the chief minister said the state government has been undertaking various programmes to boost employability of Goan youth in all sectors. The state government's Shiksha Sangam programme will enhance the scope of skilling, upskilling and reskilling, he said, expressing hope that the youth of the state will benefit from the programme. Sawant further said the government has undertaken an apprenticeship programme in collaboration with industry and educational institutions to provide on-field experience and skill development to youngsters. The chief minister released an apprentice circular focusing on the importance of apprenticeship in the institutions and signed memorandums of understanding with L&T Limited, Daikin, Abhinav ...

People-centric health innovations in focus at G-20 meeting in Panaji

The third day of the Health Working Group meeting on Wednesday under India's G20 Presidency witnessed engaging technical sessions on digital health innovations with a people-centric approach, and the issue of digital divide among others. In line with the "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" or "One Earth, One Family, One Future," theme of India G20 Presidency, the discussions emphasised the country's commitment to "healthcare for all" through vibrant global and local collaborations. Three panel discussions were held on the issue with the first focusing on "Innovations in Healthcare - Health service delivery aided by Technology Interventions", a health ministry statement said. The session saw health experts pushing for a lifecycle-care framework where open-source software can enable data innovations, it said. Suggestions such forming a central organisation/coalition in the world to guide national governments, along with regional implementation hubs, paradigm shift towards artificial general ...

Mansukh Mandaviya visits Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre in Goa

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya along with invitee countries' delegates, international organisations and development partners visited the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWC) at Corlim in Goa on Tuesday. The field visit was undertaken as part of the ongoing second G20 Health Working Group Meeting here. During the visit, Mandaviya appreciated Goa's capacities in the healthcare sector. Goa has over 201 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), Jan Aushadhi Kendras, medical colleges for training young medical professionals among other initiatives. "The AB-HWCs are equipped with primary care services and facilities for non-communicable diseases screening. They also have laboratory facilities, diagnostic facilities, facilities for minor procedures, comprehensive management and awareness activities," he said. AB-HWC Corlim showcased the ground implementation of India's vision of ensuring universal health coverage and digital healthcare landscape in th

Amit Shah's Sunday rally to kickstart BJP's 2024 LS poll campaign in Goa

Union Minister Amit Shah's rally on Sunday in Ponda will kickstart the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign in Goa for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, a senior party functionary said. Shah will arrive in the state at 3:30pm on Sunday, chair a meeting with party functionaries to discuss organisational issues, and then address a public gathering in Farmagudi town, some 30 kilometres from Panaji, Goa BJP general secretary Narendra Sawaikar said. "We are expecting more than 25,000 people to attend the rally. Allies will also take part. This meeting will kickstart the BJP's Lok Sabha campaign in Goa," he said. Sawaikar exuded confidence the BJP would win both Lok Sabha seats in Goa. Incidentally, Sawaikar had lost from the South Goa Lok Sabha seat to Congress' Francisco Sardinha in the 2019 polls.

Goa to test G20 delegates showing Covid-19 symptoms amid rise in cases

Delegates arriving in Goa for a G20 summit next week will be tested for COVID-19 if they show symptoms of coronavirus infection, an official said on Friday. The state's Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has decided to start antigen testing at the Goa International Airport, Dabolim, and the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, for the G20 delegates who would be arriving in the state, he said. India currently holds the Presidency of the G20, or Group of Twenty an inter-governmental forum of the world's 20 major developed and developing economies. The first of the eight scheduled G20 meetings in Goa will be held from April 17-20. Dr Kedar Raikar, officer on special duty (health), told reporters that although COVID-19 testing is not mandatory, it will be done as a precautionary step for the delegates coming for the G20 summit. Only the delegates with symptoms will be tested, as authorities have adopted a 'no symptom, no testing' policy, he said. Raikar said that the DHS has starte

'Will definitely go', says Delhi CM Kejriwal on Goa Police notice

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he will definitely go to Goa to appear before the police in connection with a case related to the illegal sticking of posters on public properties during the 2022 assembly election campaign. Asked about the Goa Police's notice, Kejriwal said, "I will go. I will definitely go." The Goa Police on Thursday issued a notice to Kejriwal and asked him to appear before it on April 27. Inspector Dilipkumar Halarnkar of Pernem police station issued the notice to the AAP national convenor under Section 41 (A) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Section 41 (A) of the CrPC allows the police to issue summonses to a person for inquiry if there is a "reasonable" complaint or suspicion that he has committed an offence. The AAP won two seats in the 2022 assembly election in the BJP-governed state.

Shah to start tours of various states including Bengal, Goa from tomorrow

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit four states in the three days from Friday as he spearheads the BJP's drive to tone up its organisation machinery and boost public outreach in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls next year. Party leaders said Shah will visit Birbhum in West Bengal on Friday followed by Bharatpur in Rajasthan on Saturday and Maharashtra and Goa on Sunday. He will lay the foundation stone of a party office and address a rally in Birbhum and address a meeting of booth presidents in Rajasthan, they said. In Maharashtra, Shah is scheduled to attend an event in Raigarh, where 'Maharashtra Bhushan' award will be given to Appasaheb Dharmadhikari. He will address a public meeting in south Goa on Sunday, BJP leaders added.

Majority of ATMs, state govt websites in Goa not disabled-friendly: Report

A majority of ATMs, bus stands and state government websites dealing in public utility services in Goa are not disabled-friendly, according to a survey by the Goa Institute of Management (GIM) and CII-YI. The B-School has unveiled the report, which is an outcome of a seven-month-long "survey and audit" on public utility facilities in the state from a disability perspective by its students, a statement said. The report is a part of the B-School's 'Give Goa' initiative, commissioned by the Confederation of Indian Industry Young Indians (CII-YI). V Padmanaban, who along with the other professors mentored the report, said the ATM audit covered hundred randomly chosen cash-dispensing kiosks in rural and urban parts of Goa. The findings indicated that faulty error messages or audio cues, lack of Braille-powered ATMs, improper ramp designs and complicated transactions were major issues, he said. Padmanaban and other fellow professors -- including Mantasha Firoz, Arpita Amarnani and Kings

Home Minister Amit Shah to address election rally in South Goa on April 16

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, a core committee member, attended the meet. The BJP leader said the ruling party is also gearing up for polls to Sankhalim (North Goa) and Ponda municipal councils in May

Goa's health sector's achievements showcased before G20 meeting

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in partnership with the Goa government showcased the health infrastructure in the state ahead of the G20 Working Group meeting that is scheduled to be held in the coastal state from April 17 to 19. The organisers of the meeting said the health facilities being provided at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Panaji are exceptional. "India's G20 Presidency has identified three priorities in the health track, namely health emergencies prevention and preparedness; strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector and digital health innovation and solutions," they said. The organisers showcased India's achievements in digital health Innovations, such as the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission at PHC Corlim and the technological innovation under the Swasth Mahila Swasth Goa program presented through the iBreast Device, an initiative supported by YouWeCan, founded by former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, that aids breast

BJP put democracy in dustbin: Goa AAP display posters targeting PM Modi

"When something is not acceptable, it is the right of people to protest. But the BJP and central government are trying to take away this right," Palekar said

New rules for Goa casinos soon, says CM Sawant during Budget speech

New rules for casinos, including off-shore ones, will be notified soon under the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, an official said in Panaji on Thursday. The announcement was made by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant during his Budget speech in the Assembly on Wednesday, the official said. The rules will streamline the sector and also speak of giving power of issuing tickets to the 'Gaming Commissioner', he said. Goa has six off shore casinos, while several five-star hotels also operate casinos.