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Addressing a press conference at Calangute in North Goa, Lobo said the government alone cannot be blamed if fewer foreigners visit the coastal state as all stakeholders are equally responsible.

The sale of idli-sambar in beach shacks is causing a “decline” in international tourist footfall in Goa, claimed BJP MLA Michael Lobo on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference at Calangute in North Goa, Lobo said the government alone cannot be blamed if fewer foreigners visit the coastal state as all stakeholders are equally responsible.

Mr Lobo rued that Goans have rented their beach shacks to businessmen from other places.

“Some people from Bengaluru are serving ‘vada pav’ in the shacks, some are selling idli-sambar. (That’s why) International tourism has been declining in the state for the past two years,” he said.

The legislator, however, did not elaborate on how the popular South Indian breakfast dish is affecting tourism in his state.

“There is a hue and cry because of the drop in tourist numbers. In the coastal belt, be it North or South, there has been a sharp fall in the arrival of foreign visitors. A lot of factors are responsible for this,” Mr Lobo said.

Everyone, as stakeholders, should bear the responsibility of it, he said.

Mr Lobo said some foreigners visit Goa every year, but younger tourists from abroad are going away from the state.

“The tourism department and other stakeholders should hold a joint meeting and study the reasons why foreign tourists are not ready to come to Goa,” he said.

Mr Lobo said because of the war, Russian and Ukrainian tourists have stopped coming to Goa. “The tourists from former USSR countries have stopped visiting Goa,” he said.

The MLA said the state should sort out the crucial issues concerning tourism, including differences between the cab aggregators and local tourist taxi operators.

CCTV footage showed that the kid entered the house of the accused but did not come out, an official said.

A  couple has been arrested in Goa for allegedly killing a 5-year-old girl from their neighbourhood and burying the body in their backyard, an official said on Friday.

Accused Babasaheb Alar (52) and his wife Pooja (45) have told the police that an occult practitioner had advised them to “sacrifice” a kid to “end” their woes, the official said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Ponda) Shivram Vaigankar told reporters that the parents of the child had complained that she went missing on Wednesday.

CCTV footage showed that the kid entered the house of the accused but did not come out, said Vaigankar. During interrogation, the childless couple confessed to killing the girl on the advice of a person practising black magic, he said.

Two locals on a scooty allegedly followed the tourist to the railway station, blocked his car and threatened to smash his windshield.

A man on a trip to Goa claimed he was assaulted and verbally abused, vowing to never return to the popular tourist destination. In a long post on social media, the man said the locals harassed and beat him near Madgaon railway station over a traffic dispute.

The man recounted his ordeal in a Reddit post titled “Got physically abused in Goa, will probably never come back.” He said he rented a car for his trip and was on the way to catch a train from Madgaon station after dropping his girlfriend at the airport.

“I went with my girlfriend this time and rented a car cause we didn’t want to drive a scooty in this scorching heat. While going back, I dropped her at the airport (GOI) and I was going to Madgaon for my train,” he said.

Driving towards the station, he said he apparently “cut” two local men on a two-wheeler, though he insisted there was no contact between the vehicles. “No bump, no scratches, our vehicles did not touch, and frankly I didn’t even cut him,” he wrote.

Mumbai-Goa Highway Accident: As per preliminary reports, the car lost control, skidded off and fell 100 to 150 feet into the river.

At least five people were killed when a car in which they were travelling lost control and plunged into the Jagbudi River in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district on Monday.

The unfortunate incident happened in the early hours on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. The occupants were travelling from Mumbai to Devrukh to attend a funeral ceremony.

While five died in the accident, the driver of the car sustained injuries and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The cause of the accident was not known yet. As per preliminary reports, the car lost control, skidded off and fell 100 to 150 feet into the river. The accident took place around 5 a.m.

Locals and rescue officials moved quickly to the scene and tried to rescue the victims from the sunken car.

The survivor of the accident was rushed to a local hospital for immediate treatment. The case is being further investigated to identify the root cause of the accident.

The car was lifted out of the river with cranes, and the police had a tough time retrieving the bodies from the mangled car.

The locals, who were the first to rush to the spot after hearing the impact sound, immediately informed the police. The identities of the dead were yet to be established.

In an earlier accident, at least three people were killed and eight others injured in a head-on collision between a tempo traveller and a truck on the Satara-Lonand route near Salpe village in Maharashtra during the intervening night of May 10 and 11. The truck was found to be speeding.

On May 9, in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, four people were killed and 20 others injured in a road accident. The accident occurred on the Tala-Mandad road when a speeding dumpster hit a state transport bus. The injured were promptly moved to the nearest hospital. The state transport bus suffered massive damage in the accident.

IndiGo Airlines advised passengers to stay informed by regularly checking their flight status and to plan for extra travel time due to possible weather-related delays and traffic disruptions.

IndiGo Airlines has issued a travel advisory for Goa on Wednesday, warning that ongoing rain in the state may affect flight operations, leading to possible delays or disruptions.

In a post on X, the airline said, “#6ETravelAdvisory: #Goa is experiencing rain, which may affect flight operations. Stay updated on your flight status via bit.ly/3ZWAQXd for the latest information.”

The airline’s advisory said, “Owing to inclement weather and rainfall in Goa, flight operations may be subject to delays or disruptions.”

Passengers have been advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport. “We strongly recommend that all customers check the latest flight status prior to leaving for the airport and allocate additional travel time, as weather conditions may also impact local traffic,” IndiGo said.

The airline also said its customer service teams are available to help travellers. “Our teams remain accessible across all customer service touchpoints and are committed to assisting you at every step of your journey,” it added.

IndiGo Airlines advised passengers to stay informed by regularly checking their flight status and to plan for extra travel time due to possible weather-related delays and traffic disruptions.

The airline also emphasized that its customer service teams are available to provide support throughout the journey, assuring travelers of their commitment to assist and ensure a smooth travel experience despite the challenging weather conditions.

The Met Department has warned of light to Moderate Rainfall with light thunderstorms and winds gusting to 30-40 is very likely to continue at a few places over North Goa, South Goa today.

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted a car in Sanguem village on Thursday and seized 5.75 kg of the waxy substance, which is used in the perfume industry, official said.

The police have recovered whale vomit, or ambergris, valued at about Rs 10 crore from three persons in South Goa, an official said on Friday.

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted a car in Sanguem village on Thursday and seized 5.75 kg of the waxy substance, which is used in the perfume industry, he said.

Ambergris is produced in the intestines of sperm whales, which are protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, meaning any trade or possession of their byproducts is prohibited in India.

A police spokesperson said the whale vomit could fetch about Rs 10 crore in the international market.

The trio, identified as Sainath Shet (50) and Ratnakant Karapurkar (55) of Goa and Yogesh Redkar (40) from Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, have been arrested, he said, adding that a probe is underway to ascertain the source of the ambergris.

According to senior lawyer Ameet Naik, a GI infringement case may not be sustainable. “Prada has taken a view that these are flat sandals and that there is no misrepresentation. A passing off action could be explored, but may not be a strong case of infringement. Prada could have avoided controversy by clearly acknowledging the Indian inspiration behind the design,” he said.

The issue has prompted reactions from various government officials and industry bodies. A senior official at the Leather Industries Corporation, said Prada had not contacted the corporation and said that a detailed inquiry would be conducted, with necessary action to follow.

Prakash Abitkar, Guardian Minister of Kolhapur, however, said, “the global display of Kolhapuri-style leatherwork could benefit local artisans.” He added that the state is launching a cluster scheme to promote the leather industry in the region.

Madhuri Misal, Minister of State for Social Justice, Maharashtra, said the matter is not limited to chappals but includes bags and other leather accessories. She said, “the government is working to uplift traditional cobblers through skill development and financial assistance, and that international visibility could lead to better prices for their work.”

Kolhapuri chappals, known for their handcrafted leather design, are traditionally made by artisan communities in Maharashtra and have been in use since at least the 12th century.

While no legal action has been initiated yet, the matter has sparked a national conversation around the recognition and protection of traditional Indian designs in global markets.

At the Umrao Jaan event, Janhvi Kapoor paid tribute to veteran star Rekha, whom she fondly calls her pedamma

When Janhvi Kapoor takes the ethnic route, we simply stop, stare and take notes. On Thursday, June 26, 2025, the actor stepped out in Mumbai to attend the re-release premiere of Muzaffar Ali’s 1981 film Umrao Jaan. The musical drama featured veteran star Rekha as the titular courtesan and poet. Through her gorgeous outfit, Janhvi paid tribute to the cinema legend and her pedamma in the best way possible.

She also shared a reel from a photoshoot on her Instagram account, captioning it as, “For my Pedamma #UmraoJaan the classic, in theatres all over India from tomorrow.”

For the event, Janhvi Kapoor slipped into a stunning white embroidered anarkali suit, emulating the movie’s iconic character in terms of grace and elegance. The flowy silhouette came with a plunging sweetheart neckline.

Intricate floral, beaded and mirror work dominated the ankle-grazing enthnic ensemble. Delicate borders at the hem added charm to her outfit. 

Janhvi complemented her vintage wardrobe pick with an ornately decorated dupatta, which was styled like a boho-traditional jacket. The beige-coloured dupatta bore similar hand-woven designs and patterns echoing the grandeur and opulence that are hallmarks of Umrao Jaan, the film. 

Alia Bhatt was grace personified as she opted for a blush silk ensemble, reminiscent of Rekha’s iconic look from Silsila

After serving looks in ombre sarees in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, actor Alia Bhatt turned heads with her fashion choice at the re-release screening of the Rekha-starrer Umrao Jaan on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The actor’s blush pink silk saree, in her own words, was an ode to Rekha’s look from Silsila, which also released in 1981, the same year as Umrao Jaan.

Alia, even in her makeup, recreated Rekha’s character, Chandni, from Yash Chopra’s Silsila, a take on modern relationships also featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.

Natasha Poonawalla made a case for avant-garde fashion as she rocked a stunning mini dress from AZ Factory’s Spring 2022 collection. Fun and unapologetic, the businesswoman stole the show in the vibrantly rich red number that had drama written all over it. Safe to say, she ate and left no crumbs behind in the fearless silhouette. Strapless details, crisp tailoring and structured shoulders came together like a work of art put together piece-by-piece. .

Natasha Poonawalla’s wedding guest look to attend Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s is all hearts.

The 43-year-old business personality went all out with her accessory game as well. A pretty necklace encrusted with heart-shaped diamonds offered the right amount of sparkle. Natasha Poonawalla, however, skipped earrings and bracelets.