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WEEKEND UPDATES

June 20- June 26, 2026, WEEKEND UPDATES June 19, 2026 , by

AAP PROMISES FREE POWER FOR DOMESTIC CONSUMERS

IT was a short, brief and to the point press conference which took place on June 16, 2026 at the International Center Goa  in Panjim. Aam Aadmi convenor Arvind Kejriwal, while visiting Goa on a tight schedule, told media people that AAP is challenging the BJP government to sort out the electricity mess in Goa, or AAP members will take the issue of power failures on a priority issue and continue agitating till the situation improves.  

He said that when AAP comes to power in Goa it will give 300 units free as well as 24 hours of electricity for domestic consumers. To quote him, “People of Goa don’t want smart meters. We live in a democracy, thus, government must fully scrap the smart meter project.”  AAP president in Goa Valmiki Naik accused the government of turning the Electricity Department into an extortion machine to loot Goa’s the common man.”

Also present at the press conference were Goa Prabhari Atishi, State President Valmiki Naik, MLA Capt Venzy Viegas, Senior vice present Sandesh Teleikar Dessai and Organisational Secretary Prashant Naik. All of them condemned the BJP government over the issue of high electricity bills and put three key demands on the table on behalf of the people of Goa: The government provide 300 units free electricity to every household, completely waive off all high electricity bills and penalties issued up to June 15 and immediately scrap smart meters. The issue of the smart meters has caused widespread public opposition.

Mr Kejrival noted that people in Goa are not receiving continuous electricity but are regularly receiving inflated bills. In this respect even the BJP Minister Digambar Kamat had raised concerned regarding high electricity bills and common people cannot afford to pay such high bills on time, also the government continues to ignore the widespread suffering of the people. Goa has witness nearly 19,000 power cuts between January and May 2025 and Goa has as good as turned into a state of power cuts. What is the justification for imposing higher bills and smart meters when the BJP has failed to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.

If they can do it Delhi and Punjab AAP can also do it in Goa. Give 300 units of free power to aam aadmi; in fact, said Mr Kejriwal generously, AAP which has dealt with a lot of power problems and has enough experience to streamline power issues…is willing to help the BJP sort out the current power mess if  requested. It’s left to be seen if Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar takes kindly to this offer!

MARRIOTT INDIA COMMITTED TO GREENER FUTURE


MARRIOTT India  proudly announced on June 9, 2026 the successful achievement of its World Environment Day 2026 commitment — to plant 1,25,000 trees. This takes into consideration the Marriott Group’s  extensive portfolio of over 200 hotels nationwide, further strengthening its long-standing commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship and community engagement.


Building upon the landmark success of 2025, when Marriott India achieved the milestone of planting 100,000 trees, this year’s initiative was anchored in an enhanced “Four Trees Per Room” commitment, reflecting the company’s continued efforts to create a meaningful and measurable environmental impact. The initiative witnessed enthusiastic participation from associates across the country, with 7,713 associates volunteering over 21,000 hours towards tree plantation and environmental conservation activities. Collectively, Marriott India’s portfolio of over 30,000 rooms contributed towards this ambitious goal, reinforcing the organization’s belief that meaningful change is driven through collective action.


In collaboration with local authorities, environmental organizations, NGOs, and community partners, tree plantation drives were conducted across multiple cities and regions in India. The initiative focused on restoring green cover, supporting biodiversity, enhancing local ecosystems, and contributing towards long-term climate resilience.


“At Marriott India, sustainability is not simply an initiative — it is a responsibility that is deeply embedded in how we operate and engage with our communities. Following the achievement of planting 100,000 trees last year, we challenged ourselves to go even further through our Four Trees Per Room commitment. The enthusiastic participation of our associates and hotels across the country reflects our collective commitment to environmental stewardship. Together, we are creating a greener future while contributing meaningfully to the wellbeing of our communities and the planet,” said Sanjay Gupta, Chairman, Marriott India Business Council.


As part of its ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement, JW Marriott Goa, together with other Marriott International hotels across North Goa, commemorated World Environment Day 2026 through a collaborative tree plantation initiative in partnership with Kripa Foundation, a drug rehabilitation center in Anjuna. Associates from the participating Marriott hotels came together to plant saplings on the Foundation’s premises, contributing to the enhancement of the local ecosystem while fostering meaningful community partnerships. The initiative supports environmental conservation efforts and promotes the well-being of Kripa Foundation’s residents, reflecting Marriott International’s commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact in the communities it serves.


Marriott India’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond tree plantation initiatives. Across its hotels, the company continues to champion responsible practices including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, sustainable sourcing, and community-led environmental programs, creating a positive and lasting impact for future generations.

COUGH SYRUP ALERT

IN the light of recurring incidents of the adulteration of cough syrups the Food & Drugs Administration has directed that they will only be sold on prescription now. There have been several cases of severe respiratory issues and even a few deaths caused by adulterated cough syrups. Export of cough syrups from India has been banned by many countries in Europe and USA.

TRUMP-IRAN DEAL

COMPARISONS are being made between the Versailles Treaty signed after the end of the First World War and the big deal announced by Donald Trump. During the Versailles Treaty Germany was humiliated and asked to pay huge reparation. In dramatic contrast in the deal Trump has signed with Iran, Uncle Sam has agreed to pay damages to the extent of $300 billion to Iran to reconstruct its economy. This signals that the United States of India has apparently lost the war. Why would the so called winner pay damages to the alleged loser to the extent of $300 billion dollars? The strait of Hormuz is now open. The price of oil has come down to $70 per barrel and incredibly Donald Trump has publicly ticked off the Israel prime minister who dragged Trump into the wear.

MANAGEMENT ERA IS OVER

THE Chief Economic Advisor to the Indian government Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran has bluntly warned that the model that rewarded software jobs and MBA degrees for decades may no longer guarantee prosperity. India must stop treating only white collar jobs as success. It must start valuing trade skills like welding, plumbing, electrical work, carpentry and hands on skills. The economist pointed out that in the developed west like the UK and the US plumbers make more money than software engineers. In fact, most people in the US paint their own homes to avoid the prohibitive cost of getting outside labour to do it.

MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY AQUITTED

IN a landmark judgement the Ranchi civil court has acquitted a Missionaries of Charity nun and two others of a charge of child trafficking. In the highly publicised 2018 child trafficking case it had been alleged that an infant had been sold from a church-run shelter in Bihar. This led to the arrest of Sister Concilia who spent three years in prison before getting bail. The Ranchi civil court has finally decided that Sister Concilia is innocent of the alleged crime. The Goan origin Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas has described the judgement  as a triumph of truth prayer and perseverance.

KILLER MAHENDRA THAR

IN a fourth such incident in the last seven months a private Thar vehicle given on rent killed a woman in injured two scooter riders. The driver Ashok Gaba, a resident of Calangute, rammed into multiple vehicles at Morgim late on Wednesday, June 17. Both driver and owner of the vehicle have been arrested. In the meanwhile the accused in an earlier Thar rental car accident was released on bail on a bond of just Rs50,000. Incidentally, the driver of the vehicle of the BMW Jagdish Kakodkar who crashed it in Dona Paula has had his license   suspended but only for six months.

Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad Dr. M. Ramesh, IPS vision of Safer & Affordable Student Mobility to drive congestion free Cyberabad through Parent Virtual Outreach Meeting on May 29, 2026

Cyberabad Police Commissioner Dr. M. Ramesh, IPS, Chairman SCSC today chaired an interaction meeting with parents of school children through YouTube at the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate Mini Conference Hall to discuss a city-wide student mobility initiative aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving child safety.

The proposed Student Mobility Digital Public Infrastructure is being planned as a technology-driven, community-supported and police-verified transport ecosystem to provide safe, affordable and monitored transport facilities for students across Cyberabad. The initiative aims to address growing traffic congestion near schools and colleges, unsafe transport practices, and underutilised transport capacity by creating a coordinated system involving parents, educational institutions, transport operators and civic authorities.

As part of the model, RTC buses and private transport services will be integrated through a transparent and compliance-based platform. The initiative will also involve trained and police-verified gig workers, ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers as attendants and mobility supervisors to strengthen student safety and create additional livelihood opportunities.

Addressing the participants, Dr. M. Ramesh said nearly 2 lakh vehicles gather around school campuses during peak school dispersal timings within a short 15-minute window, sometimes causing congestion levels higher than Cyberabad’s IT corridor rush hour. He said traffic congestion around schools has become a major civic issue affecting road safety, family coordination and children’s well-being. Parents rushing to drop or pick up children often drive under pressure, leading to accidents and unsafe situations. Miscommunication during pickups has also left children stranded at schools in some cases.

 CP stated that the initiative is not a short-term traffic solution but a long-term civic mobility reform designed to create a safer and more organised student transportation system.

A joint survey conducted by Cyberabad Police and the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) covering 526 educational institutions and nearly 4.1 lakh students identified major gaps in the current student transport system.

Dr. M. Ramesh said the proposed framework is inspired by the globally recognised Transport for London (TFL) model. Similar technology-driven coordination and monitoring systems will be adopted in Cyberabad to ensure structured and secure student transportation.

The proposed platform will include route optimisation systems, compliance monitoring, centralized operational control, digital coordination and smart mobility management under SCSC governance. A startup already working in the mobility sector is being evaluated as the technology and ecosystem partner for the project. The rollout will begin with student mobility data analysis, gate intelligence systems, parental awareness programmes and controlled route planning.

All participating vehicles will be integrated with CCTV systems and monitored through the Cyberabad Police Command and Control Centre.

The meeting, streamed live on YouTube, witnessed participation from5000parents connected directly along with educational institutions and various stakeholders.

The meeting was attended by Serilingampally DCP Ch. Srinivas, IPS, Serilingampally Traffic ADCP Hanumantha Rao, SCSC CEO Naved Khan, representatives of the student mobility ecosystem and other police officials.

SAHAKAR SEVA BHAVAN INAUGURATED IN MERCES

STRENGTHENING the institutional framework of Goa’s cooperative sector, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant inaugurated the newly established Sahakar Seva Bhavan, the Head Office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, at Merces, Tiswadi, on June 18, 2026. The new facility will enhance administrative efficiency and provide improved services to cooperative societies operating across Goa.

The dedicated centre for cooperative administration is housed in a restored government-owned building showcasing Indo-Portuguese architectural heritage. Restored by the Public Works Department at a cost of Rs2.40crore, the facility offers modern infrastructure for the Department of Cooperation.

Speaking on the occasion the CM lauded the contribution of Goa’s cooperative societies towards the state’s development and acknowledged the support extended by NABARD to the sector. He also appreciated the efforts of Cooperation Minister Subhash Shirodkar in securing the new premises and announced that the process for the proposed “Mhajo Flat” initiative would commence shortly, following the progress of the Mhaje Ghar initiative.

Highlighting the strength of the cooperative movement in Goa the CM added that over 5,600 cooperative societies are actively functioning across Goa. Staff members of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies and various cooperative societies, including multipurpose societies with zero NPAs, were felicitated for their contribution to the sector.

Reflecting the vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi”, the inauguration marks another step towards strengthening cooperative institutions and promoting inclusive development through the cooperative model. The program was attended by Subhash A Shirodkar (Minister for Cooperation & Water Resources Development);  Rudolph Fernandes (MLA of St Cruz constituency; Mahesh Kumar Shambhu (IFS, Secretary (Cooperation); Gauri Kamat (Zilla Panchayat member; Ashutosh Apte (Registrar of Cooperative Societies) and other distinguished guests.

5th ASIA BRIDGE CUP  2026!

THE Asia Bridge Cup is one of the most prestigious continental bridge championships, held once every four years and featuring participation from leading nations across Asia and Oceania. The 5th edition of this distinguished championship will be hosted by the Bridge Federation of India from June 21 to 27 at the Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon in Goa. A press conference was held on June 19 at the Clube Gasper Dias, Miramar, to share details of the bridge championships, by Franck Riehm (president, World Bridge Federation) and Prasad V Keni (president, WBF India), Debasish Ray (general secretary, Bridge Federation of India). Bridge is a 4-player trick taking card game played in partnership.  There is a standard 52-card deck and the game is divided into two phases, bidding (to determine a contract) and card play (to win tricks and achieve the contract).

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