Author: Team Admin

New Delhi: A US-sanctioned tanker was forced to reverse course and return to the Strait of Hormuz after failing to pass through a newly imposed maritime blockade, highlighting escalating tensions in a critical global shipping corridor. The vessel, Rich Starry, had exited the Gulf a day earlier but was unable to proceed further, according to shipping movement data. The blockade, announced by US President Donald Trump following unsuccessful peace negotiations with Iran in Islamabad, has already begun to disrupt maritime activity in the region. Within the first 24 hours of enforcement, no vessels successfully crossed the restricted zone. Several ships…

Team Goemkarponn Margao: The Navelim village panchayat has decided to approach the authorities seeking revocation of a construction licence issued for a housing project at Ratawaddo, following objections raised by residents over alleged procedural lapses and lack of proper road access. At a special meeting held on Monday, the panchayat resolved to request the additional director of panchayats, South Goa, to cancel the licence granted by the panchayat secretary. Members also agreed to demand a joint inspection of the project site after residents claimed that the Town and Country Planning clearance was issued without ensuring a six metre wide access…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said education remains the most powerful tool for empowerment of backward classes, as Goa marked the 135th birth anniversary of B. R. Ambedkar at Dr Ambedkar Park in Panaji. Addressing the state-level programme, Sawant said the government’s priority is to strengthen educational opportunities for Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, in line with Ambedkar’s vision. He urged meritorious students to pursue national-level competitive examinations such as NEET and JEE, assuring continued scholarship support. The event was organised by the Goa government in collaboration with the Directorate of Social Welfare and the…

Team Goemkarponn ALDONA: Carlos Alvares Ferreira on Monday lauded farmers in the Aldona constituency for sustaining agriculture despite mounting challenges, saying their efforts are vital to preserving village life. Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony for the project “Improvement to Tali in Survey No. 71/19 at Grande Coimavaddo in Aldona Constituency in Bardez Taluka,” Ferreira said agriculture remains the backbone of Goa’s rural economy. “If agriculture collapses, the village economy will fail and people will be forced to migrate,” he said, urging youth to take up farming and carry forward the tradition. Ferreira described farming not only as a livelihood but…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: Rohan Khaunte has called for a strict and sustained crackdown on illegal touts operating in Goa’s tourism belt, saying that awareness campaigns alone are insufficient to address the issue. Khaunte said accountability must be fixed at the police station level, with local authorities taking responsibility for monitoring and curbing illegal activities in their jurisdictions. He expressed concern that repeated instances of touting and related offences are harming Goa’s reputation as a tourist destination. Emphasising the need for proactive enforcement, the minister urged action against organised tout networks and repeat offenders, stating that failure to act decisively could…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: BJP State Chief Damu Naik on Tuesday dismissed reports of internal differences between party leaders Pravin Arlekar and Babu Azgaonkar, stating that such issues are being overstated and should not be viewed as personal disputes. He said the party functions through regular organisational meetings and large-scale training programmes aimed at strengthening its cadre at all levels. According to Naik, thousands of party workers undergo training in leadership, ideology and coordination to improve internal efficiency. Clarifying the party’s internal processes, Naik said discussions within the organisation are routine and reaffirmed that the Bharatiya Janata Party remains focused on…

Panaji, April 2026: Mining in Goa is severely damaging natural water systems across the state, drying wells, contaminating rivers and disrupting fragile ecological networks, warned environmental activist Ramesh Gauns during a recent talk at the Museum of Goa on Sunday. Gauns, whose name is synonymous with a range of environment-related agitations in the state, was critical of environmental governance frameworks, particularly the quality of impact assessments, accusing such reports of indulging in fakery. Drawing on years of field observations and data, Gauns, a veteran activist, said during his MOG Sunday talk that mining activity in catchment areas has led to…