log on to thegoan.net Facebook.com/thegoan @thegoanonline SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2024 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 143 MOVIES »PAGE 16 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 PLAY & PAUSE »PAGE 13 LIVE SMART »PAGE 14 A timeless tapestry of lives unfolding on a single stage Dastan Alice Ki Gen Z vs Gen Alpha SPORTS »PAGE 8 Neeraj ropes Oly world record holder Zelezny as coach TOURING TALES WITH MISHRA DINNERS AND GET-TOGETHERS JUGAAD: Smart hacks for a better life Harmanpreet, Sreejesh bag top honours at FIH Star Awards >> SEE PG 2 LAND PRICE HIKE: FAIR DEAL OR PUBLIC PAIN? MAGAZINE MAGAZ 9 National Education Day: Honouring Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Is dominance of artificial intelligence inevitable? Gather, savour, remember: Café St Francis Xavier’s iconic place in Mapusa’s heart 11 Role of middle-women in bartering preference & selection bias for govt jobs IN SHORT >> Jobs-for-cash scam: Pooja now held for abetment to suicide PANAJI: Mardol police on Saturday arrested Pooja Naik in connection with the abetment to suicide of a government employee, Shridhar Satarkar. His wife had complained of mental torture and harassment prompting him to take the extreme step.  >> See pg 5 UTAA to celebrate 20th anniversary PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will on Sunday inaugurate the 20th anniversary commemoration programme of the United Tribal Associations’ Alliance at Goa Engineering College grounds, Farmagudi at 3 pm. Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao and Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, who is the convenor of UTAA will also grace the event where the documentary ‘Aakrosh’ will be screened. A book ‘UTAA Ujwadachi Vatt” will also be released. Director Mahmood Farooqui presents a unique take on popular novel, Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland It’s no longer millennials versus Gen Z, there’s a new generation vying for attention Blow for Indian students, Canada ends visa policy TRUDEAU SAYS WON’T ALLOW SYSTEM TO BE ABUSED PTI TESTING TIME AHEAD OTTAWA Canada has ended with immediate effect the popular fast track study visa programme, SDS, a major policy decision that is likely to impact scores of international students, including from India. The processing time for students applying under the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was significantly shorter and approval rates higher, something that will change after Canada ended the scheme on Friday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September had announced on X: We're granting 35 per cent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number's going down by another 10 per cent. Immigration is an advantage for our economy, but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down, he added in the post as the Canadian government said it was „„Under SDS, Indian students' applications were processed within 20 business days „„Now it may take up to eight weeks „„Canada also stepping back from its previously welcoming immigration stance, especially for low-skilled workers, including a large number from India „„SDS was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students looking to reduce the number of temporary residents. The move comes amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada. According to the Indian High Commission here, India is the largest source country of foreign students with an estimated 4,27,000 Indian students studying in Canada. Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a statement on Friday. Canada's goal is to strengthen programme integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience, the statement said. The SDS was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students, it said. There was a similar Nigeria Student Express (NSE) for prospective university students from Nigeria; it too has ended along with the SDS, the state- 1 lakh and counting: North Goa tenant count crosses milestone POLICE TO NOW FOCUS ON VERIFYING CREDENTIALS TENANT VERIFICATION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The North Goa police completed the verification of over 55,000 tenants across the district in October alone, bringing the total number of verifications to over 1 lakh so far. Details shared by the Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Akshat Kaushal states police are now focusing on verifying the credentials of tenants and taking appropriate action against those found with a criminal background. Panaji: 7000 Colvale: 4723 Mandrem: 1243 Bicholim: 9516 Old Goa: 12215 Anjuna: 4461 Saligao: 5392 Agacaim: 1631 Pernem: 1917 Porvorim: 19114 Mapusa: 8933 Mopa: 1830 Calangute: 17982 “A record-breaking 55,026 tenant verifications were completed in October, making this one of the highest figures for tenant verifications conducted in a single month. Till date, over 1 lakh tenants have been verified in North District Valpoi: 4051 alone,” he said while addressing a press conference on Saturday. Currently, he added, they are verifying the backgrounds of all these persons with >Continued on P5 Happy BIRTHDAY Sweetheart! ANTHONY BARBOSA President, Tiatr Academy of Goa (A Government of Goa Undertaking) Vice Precident, Youth Club of Manora I can always count on you to lift me when I’m low and encourage me to keep going at my heights. Thank you for being you. -: Love From :Wife : Leanna G. Timudo & Daughter: Anle Barbosa (Manora-Raia) ment said, adding, both the SDS and the NSE initiatives ended on Friday. The IRCC gave a cut off time of 2 pm ET on Friday (00:30 IST Saturday), and said all the eligible SDS and NSE applications received before it will be processed under these streams. However, the IRCC said the prospective students can still apply through the regular study permit stream, for which Guaranteed Investment Certificates are accepted as proof of financial support. According to a news portal immigrationnewscanada.ca, the SDS was launched with the goal of simplifying and expediting study permit processing for students from selected countries. The streamlined process allowed eligible applicants from countries such as India, China and Philippines to enter Canada faster, typically within a few weeks, rather than waiting for the standard processing time, which could take several months, it added. New drug seizure sparks fears of local production A COLOURLESS & ODOURLESS DRUG IN LIQUID FORM, GHB TAKES PARTY SCENE TO NEXT LEVEL THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The arrest of a Russian DJ with Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) also called ‘liquid ecstasy’ -- the first such seizure in Goa -- has sparked concerns it might have been locally produced for party circuits. The woman DJ was caught with 337 gms of GHB, 33.16 grams of ganja and Rs 16.88 lakh in cash during the raid by a team of Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) at her rented residence in Keri-Pernem. Sources revealed to The Goan that they suspect the drugs may have been manufactured locally as the ecstasy was found in a crude form. However, Superintendent of Police (ANC) Tikam Singh Verma said investigations are ongoing to trace the exact source. “We are still working on the source. This form of drug, being colourless GOA’S FIRST: LIQUID ECSTASY „„Seized drug was stored in a 500 ml plastic bottle „„Officials suspect it may have been manufactured locally as it was found in crude form „„Officials also say this form of drug, being colourless and odourless, is easily smuggled „„Raw materials were likely smuggled in Goa and then processed here „„Often misused as a date rape drug „„FLASHBACK: Last month, ANC seized dimethyltryptamine, a hallucinogenic drug, for the first time in Goa and odourless, is easily smuggled, especially since small amounts of liquid are allowed on flights. It’s a possibility but we are examining all angles,” Verma told The Goan, when contacted. Sources further revealed that the liquid ecstasy was stored in a 500 ml plastic water bottle, suggesting possible local manufacture. “We suspect that raw materials were smuggled in Goa and then processed here. The packaging indicates it may have been prepared in Goa,” the source added. The ANC is also investigating whether the DJ was acting as a carrier while probing other persons involved, if any, including those who may have transported raw materials and those linked to the manufacturing location. Last month, the ANC seized dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a hallucinogenic drug, for the first time in Goa. Initial investigations > Continued on P5