PANAJI: Goa officially breached the 1-crore mark in total tourist arrivals last year, riding a booming domestic market. However, foreign tourist arrivals are struggling to regain pre-pandemic levels, currently sitting at nearly 42% below 2017 numbers, data for 2025 released by the tourism department showed. In 2017, Goa welcomed 8.9 lakh foreign tourists. In 2025, that number dwindled to 5.2 lakh. This decline stands in sharp contrast to the domestic market, which rocketed from 68.9 lakh in 2017 to a record-breaking 1 crore in 2025, propelling total arrivals to an all-time high of nearly 1.1 crore travellers.

The most dramatic collapse was observed in the charter flight segment, traditionally the backbone of Goa’s winter tourism. In 2017, the state saw 1,024 charter flights bringing in nearly 2.5 lakh tourists. In 2025, this plummeted to 189 flights carrying 40,336 passengers. Even with the operationalisation of Manohar International Airport (Mopa) alongside Dabolim, the combined charter traffic continued to slide annually since pandemic recovery began. “The tourist arrival data highlights a clear recovery trajectory across all segments, particularly in the post-pandemic period. The consistent growth in domestic tourism, the return of international charter operations, increased international flight movements through both Dabolim and Mopa airports, and the steady contribution of cruise tourism reflect coordinated efforts in infrastructure development, connectivity enhancement, and destination management,” said tourism director Kedar Naik. The scheduled international flight segment showed more resilience, but did not fully recover. In 2017, scheduled flights brought in nearly 3.4 lakh foreigners. In 2025, that figure stood at nearly 2.4 lakh. Mopa became the primary gateway, handling 1,141 international flights in 2025 compared to Dabolim’s 643. “Foreign tourist arrivals through charter flights played an important role in Goa’s inbound tourism, particularly from traditional source markets. Foreign tourist arrivals through international scheduled flights consistently contributed to Goa’s inbound tourism. In 2017, 2,460 international flights operated through Dabolim airport, carrying 3,35,573 foreign tourists. This number gradually declined until 2021, when only 265 flights and 11,971 tourists were recorded due to travel restrictions. A steady recovery began in 2022, with 1,135 flights and 1,34,922 tourists,” said a tourism department official. Cruise tourism is also undergoing a demographic shift. While the total number of cruise passengers in 2025 was 51,510, the vast majority are now domestic travellers. Foreign cruise passengers, who numbered over 40,822 in 2017, accounted for just 10,086 arrivals in 2025. Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte remained optimistic, pointing to the “resilience” of the sector. He said the steady rise in domestic arrivals and the gradual revival of international segments, bolstered by improved connectivity via Mopa, underlined the state’s “destination readiness”.

NEW DELHI: India records one of the highest numbers of deaths globally, yet the country still does not know what most people die of – a gap most pronounced in north India and even the national capital. A nationwide study published in Scientific Reports has found that only 22.5% of deaths in India are medically certified, leaving nearly four out of five deaths without a doctor-confirmed cause in official records. The findings are particularly significant for Delhi and north Indian states, which together account for a large share of the population. North India has the poorest medical certification of deaths, averaging just 13%, while Delhi’s rate has remained stagnant at around 57-59% for years – far from universal coverage despite its dense network of hospitals and medical colleges. The consequences extend well beyond record-keeping. “Without knowing the cause of death, it becomes difficult to assess disease prevalence nationally or regionally, which in turn affects health delivery, especially in remote areas,” said Dr Vinay Aggarwal, former national president of Indian Medical Association. He added that poor death documentation also affected processes such as electoral roll revision, underlining the wider administrative fallout.

Public health experts warn that unreliable cause-of-death data means govts are effectively planning health policy without knowing which diseases are killing people. Deaths from heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, infections, maternal causes, injuries and suicides cannot be accurately tracked, distorting disease burden estimates and skewing health spending. Weak certification also delays outbreak detection and undermines surveillance at a time when non-communicable diseases account for a growing share of adult deaths. The study tracked death certification patterns across India over 15 years, from 2006 to 2020. Regional disparities are stark. Large parts of north and east India continue to report single-digit or low double-digit certification rates, pulling down national averages and leaving millions of deaths each year without medical explanation. In contrast, southern and western states perform far better, reflecting stronger hospital reporting and administrative compliance. Some Union Territories are close to universal coverage – Lakshadweep reports over 94% medical certification, while Goa has near-complete coverage. The study challenges the assumption that doctor shortages alone explain the gap. While poorly performing states have fewer physicians, the strongest determinant is whether hospitals actually report deaths. In low-performing states, only about half of registered hospitals submit cause-of-death data, compared with over 90% reporting in high-performing states and UTs. The scale of the problem is stark. In 2020, India recorded around 8.8 million deaths. While about 80% were registered, only around 2 million had a medically certified cause. Progress has been slow, with certification improving by just 2.5 percentage points over a decade, despite expanded health infrastructure. Researchers warn that unless medical certification becomes routine and enforceable – particularly in north India and large urban centres like Delhi – India will continue to underestimate major killers, knowing far more about how many people die than why they die.

Known for his extraordinary fitness and disciplined lifestyle, Vidyut Jammwal continues to push boundaries, both physically and mentally. A trained practitioner of Kalaripayattu, one of the world’s oldest martial arts forms from Kerala, the actor surprised social media users after posting an unusual video on Instagram on Saturday.In the clip, Vidyut is seen nimbly climbing a tree without wearing any clothes, with his back discreetly concealed using an ‘evil eye’ emoji. The post instantly caught attention and sparked widespread discussion online. Explaining the philosophy behind the act, the actor wrote, “As a Kalaripayattu practitioner, I delve into the yogic practice of Sahaja once a year. Sahaja means returning to a state of natural ease and instinct, fostering a deeper connection to nature and inner awareness.”He further elaborated on the scientific aspect of the practice, adding, “Scientifically, it activates numerous neuroreceptors and proprioceptors, enhancing sensory feedback and improving balance and coordination. This leads to greater body awareness, heightened mental focus, and a profound sense of grounding.”The video left many users stunned, prompting a mix of humour and admiration in the comments section. One user questioned, “lekin ped pe chadhne ki liye nanga hone ki kya jarurat thi (But was it necessary to go naked for climbing a tree)?” Another joked, “Tarzan bhi patte pehenta tha, but sir Aap to mahan ho (Even Tarzan wore a loincloth, but you are in a different league).”Some fans praised his confidence, with a comment reading, “The confidence you carry within yourself sirbiggest inspiration.” Another user admitted, “I was definitely not expecting this view.”On the work front, Vidyut was last seen in Madharaasi, helmed by AR Murugadoss. The film emerged as a major box-office success, earning Rs 44 crore net in India within five days of its release.Looking ahead, the actor is gearing up for his Hollywood debut in the upcoming Street Fighter reboot. Based on the iconic video game franchise, the film will feature Vidyut as Dhalsim, the fire-breathing yogi. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the project boasts an ensemble cast that includes Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, Callina Liang, Roman Reigns, Orville Peck, Cody Rhodes, Andrew Schulz, Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson, and David Dastmalchian.

The 1st ODI between India and New Zealand is set for tomorrow at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi) in Vadodara. This marks the return of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the ODI side, with Shubman Gill leading the team as captain. New Zealand, led by Michael Bracewell, will be looking to challenge the hosts in what is expected to be a high-scoring series opener.

India enters this match with a formidable top order including Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, followed by the experience of Kohli and Sharma. The bowling attack is bolstered by the return of Mohammed Siraj and the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. New Zealand will rely heavily on Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell to navigate the Indian conditions.

BCA Stadium Pitch Report

The pitch at the BCA Stadium is a classic Indian white-ball track, designed for high-scoring encounters. It offers a flat surface with good bounce and carry, making it a “batter’s paradise” where stroke-makers can thrive. While pace bowlers might find some initial movement under the sun, the surface typically remains true throughout the game. Spinners may find occasional grip, but the relatively short boundaries place them under constant pressure. Given the likelihood of dew in the evening, the team winning the toss is expected to opt for bowling first to capitalize on the easier chasing conditions.

Also READ: IND vs NZ, ODI Series: Broadcast, Live Streaming details – When and where to watch in India, USA, New Zealand, UK & other countries

BCA Stadium Stats and Records

The venue has hosted 3 ODIs to date, with the following historical trends:

• Total Matches: 3
• Matches won batting first: 2
• Matches won bowling first: 1
• Average 1st innings Score: 278
• Average 2nd innings Score: 171
• Highest total recorded: 358/5 (50 Overs) by India Women vs West Indies Women
• Lowest total recorded: 103/10 (26.2 Overs) by West Indies Women vs India Women
• Highest score chased: 167/5 (28.2 Overs) by India Women vs West Indies Women
• Lowest score defended: 358/5 (50 Overs) by India Women vs West Indies Women

Also READ: Aakash Chopra picks replacement of Tilak Varma for the T20I series against New Zealand

Ajit Pawar with Supriya Sule and other party members in Pune, Saturday

PUNE: Estranged cousins Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule came together for the first time on a political platform on Saturday to release the joint manifesto of NCP and NCP (SP) for the Pune civic polls nearly two-and-a-half years after the split in the family and party. However, both remained non-committal on a possible merger of their outfits. “Wait and watch,” said Ajit Pawar, without giving a specific answer to the issue of speculation over the parties’ merger. Ajit Pawar’s NCP and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) formed an alliance for the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation elections despite being on opposite sides in the state govt and at the Centre. NCP is with the governing alliance in both govts, while NCP (SP) is in the opposition. After the two NCPs forged the alliance, some workers from both sides were disappointed. Speaking on the issue, Sule said, “When any alliance is formed, some party workers get disappointed. But we will not leave them on their own. On both sides of the alliance, our focus is on workers and not on netas.” When Sule was asked about her absence in the Pune municipal corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation (PCMC) poll campaign, her cousin Ajit Pawar came to the rescue. “She told me to take the lead in the campaign as I am older to her and promised that she would follow me,” he said. The PMC will go to polls with 28 other municipal corporations in the state on Jan 15. The bonhomie between members of the two parties was visible during the release of the joint manifesto. They had trained guns on each other during the Lok Sabha and assembly polls in 2024 following the split in NCP in July 2023. Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) approached the court against Ajit Pawar’s NCP, claiming ownership of the party’s name and the “clock” symbol. Asked about speculation over the parties coming together when the case was still in court, the deputy chief minister said, “We respect the court’s order and follow it. As far as the solution to the issue is concerned, Supriya and I will sit together and find it on our own; nobody else needs to bother about it.”

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