log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 163 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 MOVIES »PAGE 16 GOOD LIFE »PAGE 12 PLAY & PAUSE »PAGE 13 Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana talk about love, filmmaking at IFP 15 while promoting Gustaakh Ishq Listen to your skin clock Gen Zs don’t relate Boomer habits that simply don’t fit in a world built on balance, boundaries SPORTS »PAGE 8 India enters ODI rebuild mode with Ro-Ko return and SA challenge Ayurveda over snail mucin? How small lifestyle upgrades quietly ruin big financial goals India’s football crisis deepens as Jamil seeks urgent reforms Cooking up a storm with Vivan Bhathena A skincare routine that respects your rhythm—serums that sync with sunrise, creams that cocoon with the night ‘Discreet escort’ websites expose Goa’s murky side SEVERAL SITES OPERATE OPENLY ADVERTISING COMPANIONS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Websites openly marketing “discreet escorts” and “call girls in Goa” have still been operating unhindered online, creating another major challenge for the State as they promote services that lie in a legal grey area. One of these portals, named under poonamaggarwal, is among a mushrooming network of similar sites that have quietly built an industry around Goa’s booming visitor traffic, selling sexual services under the vocabulary of hospitality, nightlife and premium travel. So also, named under pibilo, named under Escortgram, named under Streetgirls69, named under Aneet Panday and named under Empire Escort are among a long list of such sites openly advertising companions. All this despite the Cyber >> SEE PG 2 Escort services thrive as Cyber Cell claims 507 deceitful sites blocked PANAJI: Even as escort websites continue to operate despite complaints and crackdowns, the Cyber Crime Cell claimed that it has blocked 507 fraudulent websites and 767 scam-linked mobile numbers in 2025 so far. The details reveal that it initiated 660 takedown requests in the current year including 507 fraudulent websites, 151 social media accounts, and 2 malicious mobile apps. In addition, 767 scam-related mobile numbers were successfully blocked this year in coordination with telecom service providers. “The takedown included websites and digital platforms involved in fake parcel delivery scams, online investment frauds, sextortion and dating app blackmail networks, impersonation of government authorities (like police/customs), digital arrest scams, fake hotel booking portals targeting tourists,” SP Cyber Crime Rahul Gupta said. He claimed that the highest number of website takedowns was recorded in May 2025 (258 websites), followed by January (78) and June (72). “This cyber hygiene is a continued practice with the support of I4C and MEItY. Goa Police remains committed to proactively disrupting cybercrime infrastructure and ensuring digital safety for citizens, tourists, and businesses,” he said. reads like a catalogue of luxury experiences wherein the product on offer is human -- women. The platform has steered deliberately clear of explicit illegality, yet the intent is unmissable as women are presented as “high-pro- Rains lash TN, coast on alert for cyclone Fake parcel scam grips Goa, cyber crime sleuths sound warning Crime Cell, in the past, claiming to have blocked 78 websites running escort services. The first portal’s homepage DISASTER RESPONSE TEAMS KEPT READY PTI ZP POLLS: BATTLE LINES REDRAWN MAGAZINE MAGAZ 09 10 Fear, panic in Goan homes It’s Christmas time once again Generations of Goan sweets, still baked by hand at Sequeira bakery Innovations in organised child begging present new legal challenges in Goa CHENNAI Rain triggered by Cyclone Ditwah lashed coastal areas and Cauvery delta districts in the state, with Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam districts bearing the brunt. As normal life in Rameswaram and Nagapattinam was affected by continuous rain accompanied by gusty winds, State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Ramachandran said that about 28 disaster response teams, including SDRF and NDRF teams, are on standby. Cyclone Ditwah lay centered over Vedaranyam coast in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district, according to the latest bulletin from the IMD. Under its influence, the sea in the coastal districts became turbulent. Choppy waves damaged a few mechanised fishing boats anchored near Mandapam, while portions of nearby roads were breached due to sea erosion. The cyclone was Lanka death toll rises to over 150 COLOMBO: Sri Lanka was on Saturday picking up pieces after widespread destruction caused by a powerful cyclone with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declaring a state of emergency throughout the country as the death toll rose to over 150.  >> See pg 6 centered 110 km southeast of Vedaranyam, 150 km southeast of Karaikal, 250 km south-southeast of Puducherry, and 350 km south of Chennai. It is likely to move north-northwest and approach the North Tamil NaduPuducherrySouth Andhra Pradesh coasts by early November 30. It will come within 60 km tonight, 50 km on the morning of November 30, and 25 km on the evening of November 30 along the Tamil NaduPuducherry coast, the bulletin said. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Cyber Crime police have warned public about a surge in fake parcel delivery messages circulating through SMS and email, urging citizens not to click on any suspicious links or share banking details. The police have advised people to verify suspicious links using online tools such as virustotal.com and spotthescam.in. “Scammers are sending fake SMS or emails claiming your parcel delivery has failed. They ask you to click a link, update your address, and pay a small re-delivery fee. But these are fraudulent websites. If you enter your card details or OTP, large amounts of money can be stolen from your account,” the advisory issued by SP Cyber Crime Cell Rahul Gupta said. The officer cited an incident in Goa wherein a woman received an SMS stating that her India Post parcel could not be delivered and she needed to pay Rs 10.25 through a link. She followed the instructions >Continued on P6 Software glitch disrupts flight schedule PTI NEW DELHI ndiGo, Air India and Air India Express on Saturday started carrying out software upgrade of A320 family planes to address a potential flight control issue, and requisite modifications have been done for 80 per cent of the affected 338 aircraft, an exercise that also resulted in delays and some flight cancellations. According to the latest data from the aviation regulator DGCA, IndiGo and Air India did not cancel any flights, while Air India Express cancelled four flights due to the system modification process. Flight delays have been 6090 minutes at various airports, I FLIGHTS IN PAUSE MODE „„IndiGo, Air India & Air India Express carried out software upgrade of A320 family planes to address flight control issue „„As many as 338 A320 family aircraft operated by airlines in India require software upgrade „„Most of the nearly 6,000 affected aircraft worldwide also need software upgrades THE PROBLEM: Airbus said intense solar radiation might corrupt data critical to flight controls and that software changes were required to fix the issue sources said. Airbus had said intense solar radiation might corrupt data critical to flight controls in a number of A320 aircraft and that the software changes required would lead to operational disruptions. As many as 338 A320 family aircraft operated by Indian airlines require the software upgrade to address the issue, and modifications have been carried out in 80% of affected fleet, according to DGCA data. The software upgrades have been completed for 270 A320 family planes out of 338 aircraft, as per the data available with the DGCA. A total of 200 IndiGo planes have been affected, and software upgrades have been completed for 184 of them, while in the case of Air India, 113 aircraft have been impacted and upgrades have been done for 69 of them, DGCA data showed. file models,” “professional companions,” and roundthe-clock “verified call girls” available across Goa’s most frequented tourism hubs. “Find verified call girls across top locations in Goa including Panaji, Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Mapusa, Candolim, Margao, Vasco da Gama, Arambol, and Palolem… explore genuine profiles… available for fast, discreet bookings via WhatsApp or phone… thank you for choosing Goa’s leading call girl service to fulfill your desires with privacy and care,” the website states, framing sexual commerce as a curated, consumer-friendly amenity. While the tone seems clinical, deliberate, and polished, the destinations such as beaches, casinos, five-star hotels and private villas are >Continued on P6 SEC rolls out ZP schedule, code of conduct kicks in Elections on Dec 20, counting on Dec 22 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State Election Commissioner, Menino D’Souza, on Saturday announced the detailed schedule for the Zilla Panchayat elections, setting the stage for a crucial grassroots contest across Goa, even as the model code of conduct came into force across all zilla areas with immediate effect. Polling will be held on December 20, with counting of votes scheduled for December 22. Elections will be conducted for all 50 ZP constituencies in the State. According to the schedule, the period for candidates to file their nominates will be between December 1 and 9, from 10 am to 1 pm at designated offices of the respective returning officers. D’Souza clarified that applications will not be accepted on December 3, a public holiday, and December 7, a Sunday. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on December 10 between 10 am and 3 ZILLA POLLS KEY DATES Nominations: Dec 1 to 9, 2025 (10am to 1pm), excluding Dec 3 (SFX Feast holiday) and Dec 7 (Sunday) Scrutiny: Dec 10 Withdrawal: Dec 11 Candidates list: Dec 11 Polling: Dec 20 (8am to 5pm) Counting: Dec 22 pm, while withdrawals will be permitted on December 11 until 2 pm. The final list of candidates will be published later that afternoon. Addressing a press conference at the SEC office in Altinho, Panaji, D’Souza said polling will be conducted from 8 am to 5 pm on December 20, while counting will be held from 8 am on December 22. He confirmed that voting will be carried out using bal- lot papers, continuing the practice followed in past ZP elections. The Election Commission has enforced the model code of conduct across all ZP areas with immediate effect. However, the code will not apply to the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and other municipal councils. To ensure compliance, the Commission has deployed mobile and monitoring teams tasked with overseeing campaign activities and expenditure. The police department has also been directed to provide additional forces to maintain law and order during the election period. “We are committed to ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections,” D’Souza said, adding that candidates will be permitted to spend a maximum of Rs 5 lakh on their campaigns. The announcement formally kicks off the electoral process for Goa’s Zilla Panchayats >Continued on P6