GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS 13 February 2004 IRANIANS FALL IN LOVE WITH GOA: The first chartered flight of the season brought in by Tehran-based marked leader Mika Seir and the Travel Corporation of India, has been a success with several more flights, including back-to-back operations being planned in the coming months. H Hashmizadeh, head of Mika Seir's board, expressing happiness said, "Iranians like to visit places of cultural interest and are very energetic, adding, "unlike other tourists we are not looking to come and laze on the beach. We want action and adventure". He said, "We particularly enjoyed the water sports, walking through the jungle and visiting the Basilica." (GT)
LUXURY TAX SOPS FOR GOA HOTELS: The state Cabinet has granted exemptions on luxury tax penalties to the hotel industry and provided relaxation to the disabled under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme. In what may appear as pre-budget sops, penalty exemptions on outstanding arrears have been granted for the period April 1, 1999, to March 31, 2003. (H) BABY BORN IN A BUS: In a scene straight out of a Bollywood blockbuster, in a bus named "Jesus", a Muslim woman delivered a baby boy in transit, helped by a mix of Hindu and Christian commuters. Can communal amity in Goa get any better than this? As the bus reached Khandepar, the Muslim woman in an advanced stage of pregnancy, was in the throes of labour. The bus owner requested the passengers to co-operate in ensuring the safety of the mother. Turning emotional and brushing aside the rigours of daily routine, all commuters guarded the mother until the driver managed to reach the mother to the safety of the ID Hospital at Ponda. (GT) FIRE AT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE: Fire broke out at Terracom Industries located in the Kundaim Industrial Estate when industrial waste dumped within premises of this factory caught fire at 3 pm yesterday. (GT) WILSON'S DISEASE: Five cases of the debilitating Wilson's disease were detected in Goa in the last three years, but doctors believe many more cases may have escaped detection due to wrong diagnosis. Based on the global ratio, it is estimated that at least 40 people in Goa are suffering from the effect of copper build-up in the body, which can cause death in the twenties if not diagnosed correctly. (H) "DRAGONFLY" AT DONA PAULA: Journalist-Event Manager Ethel D'Costa has resurfaced again with another pulsating event that will set Dona Paula jetty afire with the musical performance by "Dragonfly", a five-man band from Boston, on 14 February. Goa's Tidal Wave and Mumbai's Zero will also perform at the free concert to mark the Valentine's Day. (GoaNOW) KALA RANG FESTIVAL: "Music and drama is not just entertainment, but gives peace to the mind," said Governor Kidar Nath Sahani after inaugurating the 4th Kala Rang Festival at Gomantak Vidya Niketan, Margao. The five-day festival will end on 16 February. (GT) "MHAPSA FEST" BEGINS TODAY: A traditional brass band will herald the beginning of the "Mhapsa Fest" at 5.30 pm this evening at Feira Alta in Mapusa. The unique three-evening art-culture combo will throw up a lot of music and entertainment besides exhibitions of paintings by renowned Goan artists in some of the unoccupied houses, which have be been cleaned up by the Mapusa Municipal Council for the occasion. The area wears a fresh look already with Mhapsekars eventually taking upon themselves the task of rejuvenating the traditional cultural events as well as adding a bit of art and poetry to the celebrations. Today's programme features music by Taught to Teach/El Shadai, Ambrose and the Mexicans, Man Machine and Forefront; and recitals on the violin by 9-year-old Dwain Fernandes and on guitar by 7-year-old Bradwell Pinto. It is an occasion for the young and old of Mapusa to witness the well-known as well as little-known talents of musicians, artists and craftsmen from their very own locality. Nelson D'Souza and Freddy Tucker will be today's masters of ceremonies. (GoaNOW) 300 GOANS FOR KOZHIKODE KONKANI MEET: Around 300 delegates from Goa left for Calicut (Kozhikode) to attend the 24th All India Konkani meet to be inaugurated today (Feb 13). It is organised by the Konkani Basha Pratishtan, under the banner of the All India Konkani Parishad. Around 2000 delegated from the Konkani-speaking regions of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra are expected to attend the meet. (H) HOUSE RAIDED: A team of Crime Branch officials conducted a raid at the residence of former Serula Comunidade attorney, Agnelo Lobo, and seized some documents on Wednesday. The raid was conducted as part of the investigations in the FIR lodged by one Colin Lisboa, alleging fraudulent transfer of some 50-odd shares he owned. (H) GIRL COMMITS SUICIDE AT DABOLIM: A 15-year-old girl reportedly committed suicide at Dabolim. She used a dupatta to hang herself. An SSC student, she hailed from a poor family, used to study during the day and work as a maid after school hours. (H) ALDONA TO GET TWO BRIDGES: Work on three new bridges, one each in Bardez, Salcete and Sanguem talukas will begin by end of this month as the foundation stone for these projects will be laid on February 14. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will lay the foundations stone for the Corjuem-Poira bridge at 9 am. (H) VOICE TRAINING: Kala Academy is organizing a voice training workshop, under the guidance of eminent vocalist Prof Jean-Luc Drompt, at its Department of Western Music on 14, 16 and 18 February between 6 pm to 7.30 pm. KA has appealed to the interested candidates to joint he workshop. (GT) AWARD FOR GOA NAVAL UNIT: The 1 Goa Naval NCC Unit ahs been awarded the Prime Minister's Trophy for being the 'Most enterprising naval unit' for the year 2002-2003. This is for the first time that a Goan unit has won the trophy and the second time by Karnataka and Goa NCC Directorate. (GT) SOTER, COMMITTED TO PANCHAYAT EMPOWERMENT: Soter D'Souza, who has experience in both, working in and outside the panchayats, has been struggling towards strengthening the panchayat raj system in Goa. Born in Tanzania, East Africa, Soter has a flair for social work and started his community activities in Goa with 'Asha Bhavan', which related to the rehabilitation and counseling of families affected by alcohol and drug abuse. He also worked with 'positive people' and helped in spreading awareness about aids as well as counseling linked to the disease. (NT) S P O R T S ARLEM EDGE PAST BATIM: Arlem Youth Association defeated Batim Youth Club 4-3 via the tie-breaker in the Vth Velsao Panchayat Cup Football tournament at the Velsao Panchayat Grounds. (H) CRSC STUN SALIGAO SPORTING: CRSC, Navelim, defeated Saligao Sporting Club 3-1 via tie-breaker in the inaugural match of the Fransa Football Cup, at Siridao grounds. (H) D E A T H 12 Feb: Chinchinim: ANTONIO JOAQUIM GRACIAS, husband of Philomena, father of Joseph, Peter/Cleta, Maria/Bellarmin. 09 Feb: Majorda: PEDRO MICHAEL UBALDO ANTAO COSTA, husband of Maria Aurora, father of Jaqueline and Jason. No Condolence Visits. 12 Feb: Margao: BARRETO AIRES JUSTINE: husband of late Genoveva, father of Aires/Susan, Julieta/Gilbert, Fernanda/Dr Carmo. G O A W E A T H E R Temp: 24.6 degC (76.3 degF) at 9.00 am today in Assagao. Max Temp: 32.3 deg C; Min Temp: 20.2 deg C; Humidity: 86% (Official figures for yesterday) Weather: A bright and lovely morning in Goa today. Courtesy: H=Herald; NT=The Navhind Times; GT=Gomantak Times JOEL D'SOUZA, Assagao-Goa-India. Website: www.goacom.com Goacom News Clippings at: http://www.goacom.com/news Webzine "GoaNOW": http://www.goacom.com/goanow ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
