St Francis Xavier on Celluloid
`Grace, Guts & Glory` is a short English feature film based on the life of St Francis Xavier. The first ever feature film on the life of St Francis Xavier is being shot on actual locations and would recreate the exemplary life and mission of `Goemcho Saib`. Produced by Arabian Films, a pioneer digital film studio, the project has been supported by the Jesuits and the Diocesan Society of Goa. Isabel Santa Rita Vaz of the Mustard Seed Art Company is training the cast of the film, which is being produced by Shamir and Kavita Deniz.

Naval Say on Dabolim Airport
Flag Officer Commanding of Goa Naval Area, Rear Admiral Shekhar Sinha said that the Navy had realised the potential of tourism in boosting Goa’s economy, and that it has made constant efforts to increase facilities accorded to civilian flights operating at Dabolim Airport. He referred to the anti-navy sentiments from a section of the society with respect to controlling the airfield, shifting of the naval airbase from Dabolim and objections to the international airport at Mopa. Rear Admiral Sinha said the Dabolim Airport, handed over to the Indian Navy in 1962 and made
available for 24-hour operations of commercial flights since September 1, 2003, remains underutilised especially during the slots between 6 pm and 6 am. He said that most of the commercial air traffic at the Dabolim Airport had been scheduled from noon to afternoon, and that there was virtually no operation of flights during the night time, except few chartered and
delight flights.

Dual Passports for NRIs
On July 10, India said it was considering the issue of granting dual passports to NRIs as well as providing them with voting rights. `We are in the process of looking at the issue of dual passports for non-resident Indians. I think we will be able to do something in this matter,` Union
Home Minister Shivraj Patil said interacting with participants at the concluding session of a high-powered NRI summit in Singapore.

The Sky-Bus Track
The dry run of the Sky Bus will be conducted by the end of July, according to KRC managing director B Rajaram. He stated that 500 metres of the track is nearing completion even as all allied work in this regard is being expedited so as to complete the entire project in time. He also said that `France has evinced keen interest in the whole project while some corporate bodies are following suit.`

NRIs Worried
The Goan Overseas Association, the Goan Welfare Society and other Indian organisations in Kuwait have voiced concern over the decision of the Indian government to impose tax on NRI deposits. Julio Cardozo, General Secretary of Goan Overseas Association stated that his organisation in conjunction with the Goan Welfare Society would hold a meeting to thrash out the NRI tax issue at length, states a report in the Arab Times.