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WEEKEND UPDATES

Mar 07- Mar 13, 2026, WEEKEND UPDATES March 6, 2026 , by

JESUS BATS FOR INDIA

FIRST it was Jemima Rodrigues during the women’s cricket world cup semi-final against Australia. The 24-year-old Bandra girl who had suffered from performance anxiety, went on her knees and thanked Jesus when she scored a match-winning inning against Australia. More recently it was the turn of Sanju Samson in the World Cup Men’s Cricket Tournament. Sanju Samson who scored 86 runs in the crucial match against the West Indies went on his knees and thanked Jesus Christ. With Jesus batting for India they are bound to win the World Cup. Unless of course Narendra Modi attends the final. The last time Narendra Modi attended the world cup final in Ahmedabad the Indian team lost.

IRAN HELPS INDIA

IRAN seems to have accepted Narendra Modi’s belated apology for not condemning the assassination of the Supreme Leader Ali Khameini.  Khameini was killed by the United States in a targeted killing. India stayed silent for six days before India’s foreign minister signed the condolence book at the Iranian embassy in New Delhi. Iran and India have a very ancient relationship. The presence of Iranians in Mumbai was marked by the street corner Irani cafes which served tea and brun-maska with hot tea. They were very popular where working folk met for “chercha” over the Irani cup of “chai” and brun-maska.  Iran has decided to exempt India from the ban on using the Strait of Hormuz, so India will not have to increase the price of LPG, in simple words your cooking gas cylinder. Take heart in small mercies.

LIFE IS ON IN INDIA

IT IS  business as usual in India. Indians are not overtly obsessed with the ongoing Goliath and David war between Iran and the combined forces of US and Israel. India is more concerned with the ongoing world cricket cup tournament which culminates on Sunday, March 8. To add to the distractions or attractions, there was the very high profile wedding of Arjun Tendulkar, the son of Sachin Tendulkar, with Saaniya Chandhok on March 5, 2026 in Bombay.

Saaniya is the daughter of industrialist Ravi Ghai. Both cricket celebs, of course Bollywood filmstars were present besides of course the ubiquitous Ambanis. Arjun Tendulkar has not inherited his father’s genius for the game of cricket but there is a Goa connection as Arjun plays for Goa in the Ranji trophy. Sachin Tendulkar and his family have a large villa in Benaulim. Sarah Tendulkar, the Tendulkar daughter, attracted a lot of attraction when she swam in her two-piece swim suit and walked around in it with her friends. Martin’s Beach Corner in Betalbatim is the favorite seafood hangout of Sachin Tendulkar and family.   

DOWN FONTAINHAS

UTPAL Parrikar is reported to have come face to face with Babush Monserrate while both were campaigning in the heritage Latin Quarters district of Fontainhas in Panjim, on Thursday, Feb5. The primary issue in Fontainhas is the invasion by domestic tourists. Tourists wander around in skimpy clothes and even try to enter old ancestral homes. The residents of Fontainhas have to keep their doors and even windows shut to avoid the prying eyes of tourists.

A number of stalls and coffee shops have come up to cater to the desi tourist hoardes. Indeed, apparently Fontainhas has become a backdrop for newly-wed honeymooning couples to take selfies in front of the late historian Perceival Noronha’s residence. A portrait of Perceival has come on the wall of his home.

WE are sorry the Astronomy Observatory that he set up at Junta House has stopped functioning and Junta House too is just about falling down or so we hear.

OBJECTION TO ASOLDA COAL JETTY

FORMER BJP PWD minister Nilesh Cabral has objected to the construction of a coal jetty at Assolda in the Curchorem constituency . The Sanvorden-Curchorem area is a main hub for mining transport since it is the main transit point for ore for South Western Railway. Efforts are being made by the Adanis to set up a coal jetty at Assolda to transport coal by ferry to Sanvordem from where it would be loaded on to railway wagons.

However, following strong protests from locals, the jetty was scrapped. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant seems to be keener on scrapping projects than starting new ones now. He has also agreed not to permit the mega new Deltin casino to park in the Mandovi river, but there is no reassurance that it won’t park on the Chapora river overlooked by the mighty Reis Magos Fort or any other river of Goa.

RECALLING MANOHAR PARRIKAR

On Friday, March 6 when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presented his new budget, we remembered the late chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s first budget way back in 2002. Manohar Parrikar won the support of the whole of Goa by exempting petrol completely from all taxes. This was a very popular gesture since aam aadmi Goans, in the absence of first class good public transport, are totally dependent on their two-wheelers.

 Parrikar was also the first to start the process of handing over doles to woo women voters. He started the Ladli Laxmi scheme whereby all girl children would get Rs5 lakh when they reached the age of 18 years. Later, the scheme widened to include financial aid for education. Parrikar also introduced the Grah Adhar scheme to help housewife cope with the rising prices of consumer goods. Unfortunately, all this imposed a heavy burden on the state’s finances, and for example, the social welfare pensions are never distributed on time.

TELLING TRUMP OFF!

ONE must salute the UAE billionaire philanthropist Khalaf Ahmad AI Habtoor who has addressed a rather brutal open letter to Donald Trump you know who. Al Habtoor’s a major figure, billioinnaire, former diplomat, outspoken political voice in the Gulf, when he talks, everyone listens.

 To quote the letter, asks Al Habtoor: “Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran? Who gave you permission to turn our region into a battlefield?”  Some more: “Before the ink has dried on your Board of Peace initiative, we find ourselves facing military escalation that endangers the entire region. So where did those initiatives go?”

The letter ends: “True leadership is not measured by war decisions, but by wisdom, respect for others, and pushing towards achieving peace.”  We wonder if the USA president ever suffers from any kind of a conscience.

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