The Navhind Times

Beijing: US President Donald Trump was accorded a red carpet welcome on Wednesday upon his arrival in Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on a host of issues, including the Iran war and a trade deal. Trump was welcomed by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng at the airport, a rare honour that []

Project to receive central financial assistance Shoma Patnaik Panaji: Tivim and Dabolim are set to become Goas model solar villages after the state government identified them as fully feasible for 247 solar power. The project is being implemented by Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA), which assessed the electricity requirements of both the villages to determine []

Move aimed at preventing disputes and unauthorised sale Roque Dias Margao: The Goa government has ordered urgent action to update records for all lawfully acquired state land to prevent disputes, unauthorised sales and administrative confusion. Under Secretary for Revenue Vrukshika P Kauthankar issued a circular on April 22 directing all departments and land officials to []

New Delhi: India and New Zealand on Monday inked a once-in-a-generation trade pact, giving duty-free access to 100% of domestic exports, including textiles, leather footwear, and gems and jewellery in the island nation. The pact is expected to be implemented by the end of this year, as it requires New Zealand Parliaments approval. In India, []

Panaji: Goas push toward electric mobility is facing a reality check, with a significant gap emerging between the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations installed across the state and those actually functioning. According to Union Ministry of Heavy Industries data tabled in Parliament, oil marketing companies (OMCs) have set up 87 Electric Vehicle Public []

Joao Sousa M Margao: South Goa is set to get three floating jetties as part of the governments proposal to upgrade existing coastal jetties with modern floating infrastructure under the Sagarmala programme to boost coastal tourism and nautical activities. Floating jetties have been proposed at Rassaim, Durbhat and Shiroda in South Goa. In the newly []

Panaji: The Tourism Department has once again warned of penalties and fines if C and D category hotels registered with the department fail to ensure timely and regular submission of tourist check-in data through the Tourist Information Management Enterprise (TIME) application. Tourism Director Kedar Naik said the reminder was issued after it was observed that []

Panaji: In a matter related to the entry of a new vessel into the Mandovi River, Advocate General Devidas Pangam prayed before the High Court of Bombay at Goa that it should not grant any interim relief to the petitioners, stating that permissions were obtained in 2022 while the PIL had been filed only in []

Moscow: Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the Iranian people for fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty and said Moscow is ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia as soon as possible. Araghchi, who held talks with Omani and Pakistani leadership []

New Delhi: A Togo-flagged oil and chemical tanker was involved in an incident near Oman after warning shots were fired by Iranian authorities, though all 17 Indian crew onboard were safe, Indias Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said on Monday. The vessel, MT CHIRON 7, was navigating near Shinas outer port limits in Oman []

Dubai: Around 20,000 seafarers on hundreds of vessels, including oil and gas tankers and cargo ships, have been stuck in the Gulf, unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Normally about a fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas transits the waterway. Roughly 80 vessels passed through the strait in the week of []

Kyiv(Ukraine): A Russian drone attack before dawn on Ukraines southern city of Odesa wounded 14 people, including two children, authorities said Monday, in the latest barrage of civilian areas that have been a hallmark of Moscows full-scale invasion. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone strike killed two people in the Russia-occupied part of Ukraines southern Kherson region, []

Asks people to vote during phase 2 without fear of Didis goons Kolkata: Central forces will remain in West Bengal for 60 more days after the assembly polls,Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday and asked voters to cast their votes without fear of Didis goons in the final phase, a remark signalling the []

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan on Monday officially accepted the seven rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs joining the BJP, but AAP said it will press on for their disqualification under the anti-defection law and is prepared to move court on the issue. With this, the strength of Arvind Kejriwal-led party in the []

New Delhi: The Centre has asked states and Union territories to strengthen fire prevention and safety measures across healthcare facilities as party Fire Safety Week activities in the country from May 4 to 10 focusing on preparedness and compliance. In a communication to states on April 17, the Union Health Ministry In a communication to []

Pregnant womans choice is relevant rather than that of the child to be born New Delhi: Observing that the reproductive autonomy of a mother-to-be must be accorded the highest importance, the Supreme Court has allowed a 15-year-old girl to medically terminate her pregnancy of more than 28 weeks. The top court has said when constitutional []

Drawing from his training in fine art, Jonathan Vas is building a body of work that centres on storytelling, encouraging deeper engagement with art in everyday life VINIKA VISWAMBHARAN Jonathan Ananias Vas belongs to a generation of artists rethinking the role of art in everyday life. At 24, the visual artist and graphic designer from []

DR. ROQUE WISEMAN PINTO Dr. Maria Fatima Sousa Vas (Dr. Fatima Menezes Mesquita) Goas leading ophthalmologist from Vasco, left for her heavenly abode on April 25, 2026. Born and raised in Loutolim, she did her schooling in Margao (Fatima Convent) then college at Chowgule College, Margao, before securing admission at the Goa Medical College which []

The Santa Cecilia Choir of the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol presented a concert of sacred music on April 26, at the Rachol Seminary. Themed Dut Mhoje Zayat (Be My Disciples), the evening was inspired by the Easter season and the Bible verse: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). Archbishop-Patriarch Filipe Neri []

Raia: Cuncolim Union and Youth Club of Manora played out a 1-1 draw in the GFA First Division League at Raia ground. Manoras struck first through Bibhas Sawria while Cuncolim equalised thorugh Lucky Sabita in stoppage time. In another match Vagator PYSC defeated South Goa United CSC 2-0 at DBO ground, Fatorda. Vagators Vinay and []

Sanquelim: Oxford CC defeated Banjara Cricket Club by 11 runs to win the All-Goa Under-17 Leather Ball Cricket Tournament at NAPEX Ground, Sanquelim. Afrid led from the front with an unbeaten 85 as Oxford posted 157/5, with Priyanshu Verma adding 38. Banjaras bowlers picked up a wicket each. In chase, Sai Naik struck 72 and []

Panaji: YouTuber Gautam Khattar, who made objectionable remarks against St Francis Xavier at a function in Vasco, was brought to Goa on Sunday and remanded to six days police custody by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Vasco. He was flown into the Mopa airport and later taken to the Crime Branch office at Ribandar []

Margao: Worried that increasing construction activity in Varca is likely to put pressure on water availability, the gram sabha on Sunday called for the protection and maintenance of public wells, saying residents could face difficulties in accessing water in the future. Gram sabha members said clean public wells would become increasingly important and urged the []

Goas abundant bank deposits should be channelised into investments within the state, writes Dr. Suresh Shanbhogue Goa is a high liquidity economy with strong household savings and inflows. The state has excellent bank network covering every nook and corner. Goa is a bank deposit surplus state with banks utilizing the same in other states due []

The central government issued the operational guidelines for theRs 10,000crore, Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0. The funds major focus is on deep tech, early-growth startups, and innovative and technology-led manufacturing sectors. The scheme will be implemented through commitments to SEBI-registered Category I and II Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which will invest in Department for []

AffEx, an innovation of the The Anjani Mashelkar Foundation (AMF), founded by eminent Goan and one of Indias leading scientist, Padma Vibhushan Dr Raghunath A Mashelkar, makes healthcare affordable to all. AffEx will soon be available in Goa. Team B&C writes on AffEx usefulness to society at large India has made notable progress in public []

Islamabad: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, on Sunday, met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir here after landing in the country for the second time in three days amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks with the US. Araghchi, who left Islamabad on Saturday after talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief []

Damascus : The first public trial in Syria of officials linked to the rule of former President Bashar Assad opened in Damascus Sunday. Atef Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general who was head of the Political Security Branch in southern Syrias Daraa province under Assad, appeared in the courtroom to face charges related to []

Nandkumar M. Kamat On April 21, 2026, a paper appeared in Nature Communications that deserved front-page treatment worldwide. It did not get it. Williams and 29 co-authors reported something extraordinary: more than 20 distinct organic molecules recovered from 3.5-billion-year-old Martian rock, by a chemical experiment performed not in any terrestrial laboratory, but 225 million kilometres []

LUIS DIAS Ive written before how privileged I am to have been a Roman Catholic during the tenure of Pope Francis. He has thus far been the best I have experienced in my lifetime, surpassing even Pope John Paul II who I was fortunate to meet in Goa in 1986, as a member of St. []

Frederick Noronha Goa has books devoted to some of its villages. At times, there are more than one book focussing on a single villagelike Cuncolim and Saligo. Heres one, dealing with an even smaller area, on a nich topic, and quite in depth. In 160 pages, this book contains the story of a small chapel, []

Original Konkani Story: Ghanti Author: Late Shantaram Anant Hedo Translator: S. M. Borges More than a year and a half had elapsed. And Gopal did not return. I would always enquire from the barber, Damu, have you, by any chance, seen Gopal? And Damu would reply in the negative by just pouting his lower lip []

Did you know that our Sun and its many childhood friends were all born at a place much closer to the centre of our Galaxy? Over the years, our Sun and its friends have been on a speedy galactic tour travelling a distance of almost 10,000light-yearsfrom the centre of theMilky Way. Astronomers call this the []

John Aguiar In the annals of Indian military history, there are stories of bravery, and then there is the legend of Major General Ian Cardozo (Retd), AVSM, SM. To many, he is a decorated war hero. To his Gorkha troops, he is fondly known as Cartoos Sahib, a nickname that plays on his name []

Ahead of International Dance Day (April 29), NT NETWORK looks at how the art form has moved from being just a hobby to a viable career option and what more needs to be done to raise the bar CHRISTINE MACHADO NT NETWORK For Tejaswini Loundo, some of the most memorable moments as an artiste come []

AP Washington President Donald Trump says the US Navy is clearing Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea route for oil shipments whose disruption is increasingly threatening the global economy. Sweeping for underwater explosives could take months despite a tenuous ceasefire between the United States and Iran in the weekslong war, experts []

NT Reporter Panaji Goa continues to lag significantly in 5G infrastructure deployment, even as user adoption shows steady growth, the latest data has revealed. As per the data from the Department of Telecommunications under the Union Ministry of Communication, Goa has just 1,089 5G base transceiver stations (BTSs) as of February 28, 2026, placing it []

NT Reporter Panaji A court in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday granted the Goa Police three days transit remand of Gautam Khattar, the main accused in the case of objectionable and inflammatory remarks made against St Francis Xavier. The police team along with the accused will reach Goa on Sunday. Khattar was detained by the Himachal []

NT Reporter Panaji Edgar Ribeiro, former chief town planner of India and a distinguished Goan, passed away on Saturday at the age of 95, leaving behind a towering legacy in urban planning, sustainable development, and heritage conservation. He complained of uneasiness on Friday after which he was rushed to a private hospital where he expired []

NT Reporter Canacona Two minor boys drowned on Saturday after they ventured into the Talpona river at Vajrem-Bhatpal in Canacona taluka. Sources said three minor boys two from Dupeamoll-Bhatpal and the third one from Nandangadda, Karwar had on Saturday afternoon entered the river to swim without informing their parents. Hrugved Naik (11) from []

NT Reporter Panaji The High Court of Bombay at Goa has disposed of a petition concerning lapses in jail administration after taking on record a compliance report and noting assurances from prison authorities that measures to curb illegalities will be strictly enforced. The court had through orders dated December 18, 2025 and February 10, 2026, []

NT Reporter Margao Ramesh Gaonkar, Additional Collector-II for South Goa and Kushavati districts, on Friday said directives have been issued to local panchayats to identify stray dog hotspots, conduct inspections and implement effective waste management measures, with reports to be submitted to Deputy Collectors and Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs). He was speaking after a meeting on []

NT Reporter Margao In a push to build awareness around the proposed deposit refund scheme (DRS), a dedicated stall at the ongoing Spirit of Goa festival in Colva is demonstrating how the system will work once implemented. The initiative, presented by Recykal, includes live demonstrations of vending machines and handheld devices designed to collect used []

NT Reporter Margao Roque Mascarenhas, petitioner before the High Court of Bombay at Goa, whose public interest litigation led to the removal of the legacy waste dump at Sonsoddo, has said the newly commissioned 10 tonnes per day (TPD) gasification plant at the site is not a complete solution to Margaos estimated 70 tonnes of []

Shahin Bepari Lambe Panaji Residential areas will be able to avail piped natural gas (PNG) connections as the pipeline network expands to new areas and interior regions across the state, officials from the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs said. Officials said PNG companies have already laid pipelines in parts of North and South []

NT Reporter Panaji The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing land grabbing cases has obtained police custody of Shivshankar Mayekar (60), a resident of Anjuna, identified as a key conspirator. A police officer said Mayekar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on October 1, 2025 and later remanded in judicial custody. On April 23, following due []

NT BUZZ On the occasion of the anniversary of the April 25, 1974 Portuguese Revolution, also known as the Carnation Revolution, the Consulate-General of Portugal in Goa and the CLP-Cames in Panaji is hosting the exhibition Lus de Cames: The Future of the Past, at its premises. Produced by Cames Institute for Cooperation []

FILM REVIEW SACHIN CHATTE Film: Michael Cast: Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, JulianoValdi Directed by: Antoine Fuqua Duration: 2 hours 7 minutes Rating: * * * Theres a scene in Michael where Jackson, played by his real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson, steps out of his palatial home and into a waiting car, fresh from a confrontation with []

NT Reporter Panaji Hosts Goa made a strong start to the 69th National School Games Beach Volleyball Championship, with both their U-17 boys and girls teams remaining unbeaten on the opening day at Miramar Beach. In the boys category, Goa registered two convincing straight-set victories. They began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Puducherry []

NT Reporter Dona Paula Goa Yachting Associations Urvi Shirodkar and Siddhant Guttikunda, along with Rahul Choudhary of INWTC Goa, led the home dominance at Sail Goa 2026, clinching gold in their respective categories. Urvi Shirodkar dominated the Raceboard Youth Womens division, while Siddhant Guttikunda topped the Raceboard Youth Mens event, underlining GYAs strength in the []