BJP’S Isidore Fernandes victorious
	BJP candidate Isidore Fernandes defeated his arch rival and Congress nominee Jagdish Acharya by a margin of over 2486 votes in the Poinguinim by-poll in Goa. In the results declared this morning, Isidore polled 6961 votes while the combined efforts of the opposition parties fetched only 4465 votes for Archaya. The results are definitely upsetting for the Congress party who had expected their candidate to get elected which would have supplemented their attempts to dislodge Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and return to power in Goa.
With Isidore’s inclusion the BJP strength is now 20 in the House of 40 members. Moreover, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar and Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues (an independent) won’t be enjoying the same influence in the BJP-led coalition as they did before the by-poll as Parrikar need not rely on their support now.

Schedule of masses during “Exposition”
On the inaugural day November 21, the Pontifical Mass will be celebrated in the pandal at 9.30 am followed by carrying of the Relics to Cathedral where it will be kept for public veneration till Jan 1, 05. The pilgrims will be allowed to venerate the relics from 6 am till 7 pm. The relics will be carried from the Basilica to Cathedral by the representatives of the deaneries. Masses in the pandal on Nov 22 and 23 will be in the morning from 6, 7, 8, 9.15 (English) and evening, 4, 5, 6 (English). Masses during the Novena days from Nov 24 to Dec 2 morning 6, 7.15, 8.15 (Novena Mass), 9.30, 10.30 (English), 11.30 (mass for the pilgrims) and evening 3.45, 5.15, 6.15 (English). On Feast Day (3rd Dec), masses will be in the morning from 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.30. Evening: 4, 5, 6 (English).

Information for IFFI delegates
The 35th International Film Festival of India will be held in Goa from November 29 to December 09, 2004. Professionals related to cinema, television, radio, theater and artists from the fields of performing and visual arts; Teachers and students of cinema, theater, performing and visual arts; Publishers and writers of books on cinema and culture; Members of the Press (but they must apply to Press Information Bureau) www.pib.nic.in; other details at http://www.iffi.nic.in

First charters flights arrives
The first two chartered flights from the United Kingdom for this tourist season landed at Dabolim Airport on Friday (14 October) bringing to Goa upmarket tourists, most of them British nationals. The direct flight, Excel Airways, flying for the first time to Goa, appeared from a misty sky and touched down at Dabolim at 8.15 am carrying tourists from Gatwick and Manchester, England. The flight carried a total of 269 passengers…The second flight, a Boeing 757 of March Airlines, chartered by Jewel in the Crown, laded at 4.30 pm from Manchester. Jewel in the Crown is the single largest tour operator bringing tourists to Goa. The flight brought 233 people, mostly British nationals.

Faleiro is chief of WB’s parliamentary network
Rajya Sabha MP Eduardo Faleiro has been elected as Chairman of the Parliamentary Network of the World Bank. He succeeds Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. The purpose of the Parliamentary Network is to facilitate dialogue between parliamentarians and the WB, to provide greater transparency of policies and practices and to increase collective accountability.

Heady mix of heritage jazz

Two dedicated jazz and heritage house lovers have embarked on an exciting project. The Rebello mansion, Betalbatim, witnessed a grand jazz explosion on September 10, when great artists came together from varying musical and geographical backgrounds to create a fusion of east and West, Christian and Hindu, traditional and modern, transcending boundaries in an exciting fusion of music. The event organised by Armando Gonsalves of Trance media is the first of the three-concern Heritage Jazz Yatra. The second concert will take place in Assagao next month.