log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 96 Instagram.com/thegoanonline India wins historic double gold in Chess OlympiadPg 12 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 GOANS UNITE TO PROTECT THEIR LAND Hundreds take to streets, burn candles Storm brewing in Pomburpa against Bhutani project in Sancoale over mega projects in NDZ THE GOAN I NETWORK >> pg 6 Nifty nears 26,000 as FIIs fuel growth: 5 factors to watch IN SHORT >> Viral videos bid to tarnish my image, says CM PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said that the viral videos on social media, accusing him over his involvement in various scams, are “politically motivated” and without any substantial evidence. In a video message released, Sawant said that the videos are an attempt to create unrest and disrupt the government and so also to tarnish his image.  >> See pg 3 Coconut tree falls on car at St Inez PANAJI: A scooterist and a car driver had a miraculous escape when a coconut tree fell on them while in motion near the St Inez Church on Sunday evening. Their vehicles suffered damage but both escaped without any injury. The incident led to traffic chaos for close to an hour before police cleared the road using a towing truck. Woman robbed of gold chain in Mapusa MAPUSA: A woman was robbed of her gold chain by two motorcycle-borne youths near a roadside shop in Verla-Canca on Sunday. According to police, the incident occurred when two men on a bike stopped near the woman.  >> See pg 3 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Hundreds of locals participated in a peaceful candlelit march against the Bhutani project in Sancoale on Sunday, as they along with activists and political and religious leaders demanded the immediate scrapping of the project. The villagers started off the protest with a litany at the local Holy Cross and a prayer meeting at Shantadurga Temple. Thereafter, they peacefully marched to the Bhutani site raising slogans against the promoters of the project as well as the local panchayat. Addressing people, South Goa MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes cautioned them to remain united as attempts to divide Goans are likely to intensify. “These Goan hills are natural water tanks that supply us water for entire year. But outside forces have entered our MAPUSA In the tranquil village of Pomburpa, a fierce battle is brewing between the local residents and the looming presence of mega construction projects. For the people of this closely-knit community, protecting their hills and green spaces has become a matter of life and death, with many warning they will fight to preserve their land “till they drop dead.” The growing resistance is driven by a deep sense of frustration, fuelled by the government's slow response to the concerns raised by the villagers. At the heart of the controversy is a development project spearheaded by renowned fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani in the ecosensitive zone of Ecoxim, along with the purchase of Locals participate in a candlelit protest against Bhutani project in Sancoale on Sunday. hills as the doors have been opened by our elected representatives,” said Capt. Viriato. Local MLA Anton Vas briefed people about steps taken by him and assured his solidarity in their mission to scrap the Bhutani project. Chicalim Parish Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira appealed to the people to remain united against the mass commercialism of Goa which will ultimately decimate Goan culture. Appreciating the protesters, Fr Pereira warned the government not to force people to come on the streets. “Our renewed fight has just begun and we have a long way to go. We will protest till we reach the logical conclusion,” said Fr Pereira. While castigating the local leaders who had connived with the promoters of the mega project, Congress leader Olencio Simoes appealed to those present to support the special Gram Sabha where a Pope’s Goa visit under cloud amidst Centre’s indifference SAWANT HAD SENT REQUEST TO PMO 2 MONTHS AGO THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI There is lack of clarity over the visit of Pope Francis to Goa and India as whole as the Central government seems to have not shown any interest, so far, for an official invite to the Vatican. This is despite the fact that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant through an official communication had requested the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to invite the Vatican leader to India stating Goa would like to host the Pope for upcoming Exposition of St Francis Xavier. India’s absence from Pope’s on-going Southeast Asia itinerary, released by the Vatican, has left the Goa government disappointed. Despite his repeated visits to Asia, Pope Francis has never visited India. Highly placed sources informed that nearly two months back the Chief Minister in an official com- munication to PMO had requested that Pope be invited to India and Goa visit should be included. Sawant had expressed willingness to host the Pope for the decennial Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier which is a 45-day event. “However, there is no communication received from the Centre so far. There is absolutely no clarity on whether the Centre has invited the Pope. At least, Goa government has no news on his possible visit to In- dia and the coastal State,” sources said adding ‘Union Ministry for External Affairs is learnt to have not sent an official invite to the Vatican so far’. In 2021, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced he had invited Pope Francis to visit India. Modi renewed the invitation when he met with the Pope in June, this year, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy. The last Pope to visit India was Pope John Paul II who visited the country in 1999 while Pope John Paul II had visited Goa in 1989. In 2016, the pope was said to be “almost sure” to visit India, but the Vatican dropped the plan stating less than enthusiastic response from the Indian government. In October 2021, it was reported that he had “accepted” an invitation from Modi. But as is apparent now, nothing came of it. resolution would be passed to revoke the PDA for Sancoale village, which was the root cause for the mushrooming of mega projects in the village. Among those who addressed the gathering included Cortalim Cong Block President Peter D’Souza, South Goa BJP President Tulshidas Naik, activists Walter Lobo, Rama Kankoncar, Xencor Polgi, former minister Alina Saldanha, Adv Pratima Coutinho, Tara Kerkar, and Adv Tanuj Advaipaikar. BJP will be wiped out in M’rashtra poll: Ex-Goa gov PTI MUMBAI Former Jammu and Kashmir and Goa governor Satya Pal Malik met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday and said he will campaign for the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the upcoming Maharashtra polls. Speaking to reporters, Malik, a vocal critic of the current administration, expressed confidence that the MVA will emerge victorious and claimed the ruling BJP would be “wiped out” in the State elections, likely to be held in November. He suggested the MVA allies -- Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) -- to make adjustments and stay united. Malik, who had played a crucial role in the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, met former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence in Mumbai. Malik said, “BJP will not just receive a major blow, but the party will be wiped out in the state elections”. DAYS AFTER LAUNCH OF IPHONE 16… Centre warns Apple users of ‘high’ security flaws AGENCIES NEW DELHI hortly after the launch of iPhone 16, the Centre has issued a warning of ‘high-risk security” flaws in the iPhone and other Apple products. According to the advisory by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, multiple vulnerabilities have been reported in Apple products that could allow an attacker to access sensitive info of users. The advisory concerns a wide range of Apple software versions, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and visionOS. On September 19, CERT-In issued a high-risk warning to CERT-IN ADVISORY ON APPLE PRODUCTS „„iOS: Versions prior to 18 and 17.7 „„iPadOS: Versions prior to 18 and 17.7 „„macOS Sonoma: Versions prior to 14.7 „„macOS Ventura: Versions prior to 13.7 „„macOS Sequoia: Versions prior to 15 S Apple users about multiple vulnerabilities found in several Apple products. The vulnerabilities are rated as “high” risk because it can allow attackers to: Gain unauthorised access to sensitive information; Execute arbitrary code on the device; Bypass critical security restrictions; Cause denial-of-service (DoS) conditions; Elevate privileges to gain control over the system; Perform spoofing attacks and „„tvOS: Versions prior to 18 „„watchOS: Versions prior to 11 „„Safari: Versions prior to 18 „„Xcode: Versions prior to 16 „„visionOS: Versions prior to 2 Engage in cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks VULNERABLE For example, for iOS and iPadOS users, with iOS versions prior to 18 or 17.7, can face DoS attacks, information disclosure, and security restriction bypassing. Users running older versions of macOS may experience data manipulation, DoS, privilege elevation, and cross-site scripting. While tvOS and watchOS products face similar risks of DoS attacks, XSS vulnerabilities, and information disclosure. Older versions of Safari and Xcode can be vulnerable to spoofing and security restriction bypassing. visionOS users may be at risk of data manipulation, DoS and information disclosure. The advisory recommends users must update their Apple devices to the latest versions of software to avoid the risks. Ecoxim villagers rally on a hillside, protesting the govt delays in addressing controversial development projects. ALDONA MLA PLEDGES LEGAL FIGHT TO PROTECT ECOXIM'S HILLS, FORESTS >> See pg 2 35,000 square meters of land by Delhi-based businessman Mohit Agarwal. “This is our land, and we will fight to save it. Don’t play with our village. If we come out, leaders won’t know where to hide,” declared Dhirendra Phadte, a young resident of Ecoxim, echoing the defiant sentiment of many in the village. The anger stems from the perceived exploitation of Pomburpa’s land by outsiders. Phadte alleged that the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department has colluded with developers >Continued on P7 12-yr-old murdered in Sanquelim BICHOLIM: In a shocking incident, a worker at a dairy farm who was dismissed from service is alleged to have exacted revenge by murdering the 12-year-old brother of the worker who replaced him in the farm at Vithalapur-Sanquelim in the wee hours of Sunday. The accused, identified as Chandu Patil, is believed to have fled to his native place in Shegaon-Maharashtra after the incident. According to available information, Patil (31) had been employed at a dairy farm in Vithalapur but his services had been terminated as his performance had not been satisfactory.  >> See pg 3