25 refugees found dead on Italy-bound boat

Rome:  Italian coast guards found 25 dead bodies in the hold of a Libyan refugee boat crammed with 271 passengers that arrived on the southern island of Lampedusa today, local port authorities said.

It was not immediately clear how the refugees - all young men - had died. Asphyxiation due to crowded conditions was a possible cause.

Goa to prevent 'negative' films

Panaji:  Filmmakers who want to shoot in Goa will now have to pledge not to tarnish the Indian resort's reputation, a state government agency said on Wednesday.

The Entertainment Society of Goa, which licenses films being made in the former Portuguese colony, said all companies now had to submit a synopsis and a declaration "assuring that the movie will not spoil the image of Goa".

Sub-inspector arrested in fake currency case

Panaji:  A police sub-inspector (PSI) was arrested on Sunday in connection with a counterfeit currency case.

PSI Vaibhav Naik, attached to Vasco police station, was placed under arrest after his role in pushing the counterfeit currency notes came to light, police spokesman John Aguiyar said.

Aguiyar said investigations are on to confirm whether the notes, pushed by Naik, were from the police seizure of the fake notes.

Saudi national held for cheating job aspirants

Hyderabad:  A Saudi national was arrested on Sunday for allegedly luring overseas job aspirants from Hyderabad on the pretext of providing high salaried jobs and cheating them.

The accused, identified as Alawi Asaad Tunsi, promised and recruited unemployed youths of Hyderabad with high salaried jobs in Saudi Arabia. However, he later "cheated" them by offering low salaried employment, they said.

Cops discuss Naxal threat with heads of Pune colleges

Pune:  The city police have alerted colleges in the city about Naxalite sleeper cells trying to spread their wings on campuses in a bid to attract students to their ideology.

In a recent meeting of principals and directors of various colleges and management institutes, the police appealed to college administrations to remain alert to the threat. Commissioner of Police Meeran Chadha Borwankar presided over the meeting. Nearly 40 college principals and directors of various institutes and officials of various education institutes took part in the meeting.