Goa experiences tremors
PANAJI: While the epicentre of the earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale was 190 kms away from Goa in Koyna, the tremors were also felt in parts of the State and triggered panic, specially among people in buildings and they either rushed out of doors or moved to safe places.
"The tremor can be classified as of moderate intensity and was recorded for a duration of 22 seconds in Panaji", he said, adding the possibility of further tremors could not be ruled out.

Goa's financial statement presented in Lok Sabha
Union Minister for Finance, P Chidambaram presented in the Lok Sabha the annual financial statement of Goa for the year 2005-2006 with a deficit of Rs.41.79 crore. The budget 2005-2006 was presented in the Lok Sabha as Goa is under President's Rule. The revised estimated 2004-05 indicate a reduction of Rs.688.41 crore in receipts under Revenue Account.

Top European football coach is a proud Goan
Mariano Barreto, who was born in Ribandar in 1957, went on to be Assistant Coach to Champions League Clubs in Europe like Borussia Dortmund in Germany, Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia, Head Coach to the Ghana national team who qualified and participated in the Athens Olympics, 2004 in Greece. Currently, he is Head Coach with a Portuguese Super League team Clube Maritimo from the island of Madeira.

Goan gets top post in British High Commission
A Goan, Jeronio 'Jerry' Almeida has taken over the Director, Public Diplomacy Initiative, of the British High Commission in New Delhi. Almeida's most recent post was as Chief Executive Officer incharge of international fundraising for India's largest NGO, Action Aid India. A native of Assolna, Almeida is also the founder director and chief volunteer of NGOs (I-Congo), which he evolved as the apex body for NGOs in India. Almeida's new work profile will be to promote the UK in India for trade, investment, tourism, culture, environment, education and social development through the British government-run NGO Department for International Development.

Lacklustre Zilla Polls
Congress-backed candidates virtually wept the South Goa Zilla Panchayat polls, with the party bagging as many as 14 of the 20 seats. BJP which ruled the State for the last four-and-a-half years suffered a major setback in the North Goa Zilla Panchayat elections as party-backed candidates could win only nine seats in the 30-member body. A total of 6,64,299 votes in two ZP constituencies went to the second Zilla Parishad polls held in Goa on January 13, with 197 candidates are in fray in both the North and South Goa Zilla Panchayats. Jennifer Monserrate, wife of former minister for Town and Country Planning Babush Monserrate was elected unopposed from Taleigao. So also Antonio Silveira, brother of St Andre MLA Francis Silveira, was elected unopposed from Agassaim. The elections evoked a lukewarm response with only about 50 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise but the poll process passed off most peacefully without any untoward incident in Goa.

Gomant Sharada Puraskar presented to Keni
Mr Justice (retd) Narendra Chapalgaonkar presented the prestigious Gomant Sharada Puraskar, the highest state award for literature to noted Konkani writer, Mr Chandrakant Keni, at the Kala Academy complex. The award has been instituted by Kala Academy. Mr Justice Chapalgaonkar said that the society had lost its faith in sublimity and humanity, and the same was responsible for lack of quality literature produced in modern times...Mr Chapalgaonkar also took note of Mr Keni's rich contribution in the field of journalism as well as his key role in giving a direction to the state, during its formative years, after Liberation. Earlier, he presented Mr Keni with an idol of Shree Sarawati, a sum of Rs.50,000, shawl and a scroll of honour.