Microsoft to buy 4% stake in London Stock Exchange

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Microsoft is to take a 4 percent equity stake in London Stock Exchange Group as part of a 10-year commercial deal to migrate the exchange operator’s data platform into the cloud, the British company said on Monday.

As part of the deal, LSEG has made a contractual commitment for minimum cloud-related spend with Microsoft of $2.8 billion over the term of the partnership.

Microsoft said the basis of the partnership will be the digital transformation of LSEG’s technology infrastructure and Refinitiv platforms on to the Microsoft Cloud.

“The initial focus will be on delivering interoperability between LSEG Workspace and Microsoft Teams, Excel and PowerPoint with other Microsoft applications and a new version of LSEG’s Workspace,” the U.S. company said.

Also read: Microsoft signs 10-year deal to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo

LSEG shares were up 4 percent in early trade.

LSEG bought Refinitiv for $27 billion from a Blackstone and Thomson Reuters’ consortium, which turned the exchange into the second largest financial data company after Bloomberg LP.

LSEG has made “good progress” on its programme for the delivery of its cloud-based data platform since the completion of its Refinitiv acquisition in January 2021, it said in a statement.

Microsoft will buy LSEG shares from the Blackstone/Thomson Reuters Consortium, the exchange operator said.

Thomson Reuters, which owns Reuters News, has a minority shareholding in LSEG following the Refinitiv deal.

Microsoft’s purchase is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2023.

Also read: Microsoft is using accessibility tools to reach specially abled users

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Gold prices today: Yellow metal rates drop by over Rs 130 as dollar gains

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Domestic gold prices were down early Monday as the dollar inched higher while investors readied for the key US inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s rate-hike verdict due this week. On MCX, the gold prices were nearly 0.2 percent (by Rs 132) down to Rs 54163 per 10 grams on Monday. Similarly, Silver was down by nearly Rs 150, touching Rs 67889 per kg.

Globally, Spot gold slipped 0.5 percent to $1,786.95 per ounce, as of 0510 GMT.

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The drop in metal prices were witnessed at the dollar gained in the early trade. Around 11 am, the US Dollar Index Futures – Mar 23 was up nearly 0.3 percent at 104.815. With this, the rupee depreciated by 33 paise from its previous close vs dollar to 82.60 on Monday.

Crude oil prices rose on Monday as a key Canada-United States crude pipeline stayed shut while Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to cut production in retaliation against a Western price cap on Russian oil exports. Brent crude futures rose 0.5 percent to $76.5 per barrel at the last count. WTI futures too rose and were trading 0.7 percent higher at $71.5 per barrel at the last count.

Indian equity benchmarks BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 opened lower on Monday tracking largely negative cues across global markets.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Here’s how Delhi Airport is planning to fix the growing complaints of congestion and delays

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Ministry of Civil Aviation, DIAL (Delhi International Airport Ltd), and other stakeholders have devised a plan to reduce congestion at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, which recently witnessed a significant surge in traffic. Several passengers took to social media to complain about the long queues outside the airport and at the security check.

Authorities have put in place an action plan, including reducing the number of flights during peak hours, to deal with the situation.

The Airlines have asked passengers to reach early, do web check-in and carry only one piece of hand baggage for faster movement. The country’s largest airline IndiGo has asked passengers to reach Delhi airport at least 3.5 hours prior to domestic departures. Vistara is asking its passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours prior to domestic as well as international flights.

Delhi airport is experiencing high footfalls and the check-in and boarding time is expected to be longer than usual, as per the advisory tweeted by IndiGo.

”Passengers are requested to reach the airport at least 3.5 hrs prior to domestic departures, and to carry only 01 piece of hand baggage weighing 7 kgs for a smooth security check. Please ensure that you complete your web check-in for added convenience,” it said.

Regarding Mumbai airport, SpiceJet has advised passengers for domestic flights to reach ”2.5 hours prior to flight departure time and 3.5 hours prior for international travel”.

Passengers have also been asked to complete web check-in and keep boarding pass along with identification proof in hand for faster and seamless experience.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, the minister of civil aviation, on Monday inspected the preparations made at Terminal 3 of the Delhi airport to reduce congestion. He interacted with security officers and other airport visitors while being accompanied by senior government officials.

Together with the aviation secretary Rajiv Bansal, the minister could be seen evaluating the conditions. He also gave the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and airport staff instructions to address the congestion problems as soon as possible.

Also read: Peak-hour flight options might reduce as big airports battle congestion woes

These are the plans drawn up by DIAL and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) that include quick fixes to ease congestion.

Measures taken to reduce congestion

1: Additional X-ray systems: The Ministry of Civil Aviation is to implement prompt corrective measures, such as boosting the 14 X-ray screening systems that are currently in place by installing two more systems.

2: Debunching of flights: Senior ministry representatives said that negotiations with airlines are ongoing to cut the number of flights during the busiest hour at the three terminals — 14 in T3, 11 in T2, and 8 in T1 — by as much as half.

3: Car Lane: According to the officials, DIAL has taken a number of actions in the past two days to reduce vehicular congestion, including adding 4 more traffic martials to the 12 already present on the ground at the T3 departure forecourt.

4) Entry points: The officials said that, among other things, the reserve lounge would be demolished and that two entry points at T3’s Gates 1A and 8B would be modified to be used by passengers.

5) Posters and awareness: In order to ensure that passengers have their boarding passes ready, awareness posters have also been placed at the entry gates. Mobile announcements are being used to instruct passengers on the appropriate behavior.

6) Security: DIAL has also stationed eight dedicated staff members at the entrance gates to assist passengers, and extra staff has been placed in the ATRS (Automatic Tray Retrieval System) area to assist travellers with tray preparation and traffic management.

7) Security lines: There are currently 16 lines in operation for the security procedure at Delhi Airport, up from the previous 13. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the department is working to add a few more lines, bringing the total to about 20.

Another important decision taken today was regarding the security process. A total of 13 lines are in use presently at Delhi airport which we have increased to 16. We are also trying to add a few more lines taking it close to 20 lines: Civil Aviation Min Jyotiraditya Scindia pic.twitter.com/NDpnFk5HRc

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2022

Three terminals—T1, T2, and T3—are located at IGIA, which is also the country’s largest airport. The T3 gate serves all international and some domestic services. It operates 1,200 flights each day and handles an average of 1.90 lakh passengers.

Also read: Jyotiraditya Scindia discusses capacity, baggage and immigration issues with airport operators

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

ISMT shares gain on plans to sell 40 MW captive power plant for Rs 65 crore

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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[wealthdesk shortname=”ISMT” isinid=”INE732F01019″ bseid=”532479″ nseid=”ISMTLTD” sector=”Steel – Rolling” exchange=”nse”]

Shares of ISMT Ltd. rose as much as 4.4 percent in morning trade on Monday after the company announced its plans to sell its 40 MW captive power plant to Omsairam Steels and Alloys for Rs 65.71 crore.

The company entered into a Business Transfer Agreement on December 9 for the sale of the 40 MW captive power plant on a slump sale basis.

The deal is expected to be completed by February 2023.

The sale of the captive power plant will strengthen the company’s financial position as the plant has been non-operational since April 2014. In addition, it will also help reduce the annual operating cost that is incurred by the company to keep the CPP in working condition.

ISMT is engaged in the manufacturing of steel, alloys, and metal tubes, while Omsairam Steels and Alloys is involved in the manufacturing of TMT Bars and Billets.

ISMT Ltd. registered a turnover of Rs 2,152.54 crore and its net worth stood at Rs 1,415.78 crore for the previous financial year. Omsairam Steels and Alloys clocked a turnover of Rs 1,318.26 crore in the previous financial year while its net worth was Rs 226.79 crore.

Shares of ISMT are trading at Rs 54.40, up 1.49 percent.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

FIFA corruption probe: What are the charges and who all are involved?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The European Parliament is mired in controversy surrounding a corruption scandal with the Belgian police seizing 600,000 euros in cash and detaining two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) as part of an international investigation into alleged corruption tied to football World Cup host Qatar.

On Sunday, a Belgian judge charged four unnamed suspects with “participation in a criminal organisation, money laundering and corruption” and remanded them in custody.

Although the federal prosecutor’s office did not identify the four, one of them is likely to be Greek socialist MEP Eva Kaili, who is also one of the parliament’s vice presidents, AFP reported quoting a judicial source.

Over the weekend, investigators conducted multiple arrests and searches in the homes of two MEPs and a former MEP’s family in Italy.

ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2022, Quarter-finals, Day 2 Highlights: Morocco shock Portugal and France eliminate England

Two persons were released by the investigating judge, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Italian prosecutors said Antonio Panzeri, president of a Brussels-based NGO and a former MEP, was detained in Brussels, while his wife and daughter were detained in Bergamo on the basis of a European arrest warrant.

What are the charges?

Kaili and five others were arrested in Brussels on Friday following investigations into allegations that figures linked to World Cup host Qatar paid bribes to influence the EU policy debate.

Apart from seizing the 600,000 euros ($630,000) in cash, the police also seized computers and mobile phones during raids in Brussels.

According to the judicial sources, Kaili was caught by the Belgian police with “bags of cash” in her possession.

ALSO READ: FIFA to launch NFTs — what’s on offer for football fans

According to Belgium’s federal prosecutors’ office, third parties in political and/or strategic positions within the European parliament allegedly received large sums of money or gifts to sway the parliament’s decision.

According to Italian MEP Dino Giarrusso, since 2019 he and several other legislators in Brussels were approached by Qatari officials to help them “improve the country’s reputation, especially in the run-up to the Fifa World Cup”, Financial Times reported.

The allegations come at a time when Qatar is preparing to host the World Cup semi-finals and final this week. The FIFA World Cup 2022 has been marred in controversy with allegations of human rights violations and corruption including the right of hosting the tournament in the Gulf state.

Hosting rights

Qatar winning the hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup has been itself marred by controversy since it was first announced 12 years ago.

The US Department of Justice said bribes were paid to five members of FIFA’s top board prior to the 2010 vote to choose Qatar as the host of World Cup 2022.

Qatar denied the allegations.

ALSO READ: Cyclone Mandous Latest Updates: Heavy rainfall likely in Tamil Nadu, schools closed in many districts

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Vodafone Idea stock falls 52% in one year as market fears if the telco will survive

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Telecom operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) may struggle to recover financially unless its owners, UK-based Vodafone Plc and India’s Aditya Birla Group, inject new equity by January or February, according to news reports. The debt-ridden Vodafone Idea and ATC Telecom Infrastructure have mutually extended the last date for the preferential issue of optionally convertible debentures (OCDs) to ATC to 28th February, 2023 or such later date as may be mutually agreed.

In a meeting on December 6, VIL said that the company will seek a fresh nod from shareholders to raise Rs 1,600 crore from ATC Telecom Infrastructure, as the issuance of OCDs has not been completed within the stipulated time since the last approval.

The shares of Vodafone Idea Ltd have slipped as much as 51.83 percent in the last one year as worries ensue in the market regarding the telco’s survival.

The telco needs to raise over $3 billion in the next 6-12 months to meet short-term liquidity pressures, given that it needs to quickly clear sizeable dues to tower companies (Indus and ATC), and also invest in 4G/5G capex in the near term to stay competitive vs peers, according to a report by ET quoting Nitin Soni, senior director (corporates) at Fitch.

The report said that according to government officials, the financial recovery for the telco would be tough until its promoters make a fresh equity infusion by January-February.

Also Read: Adani Total Gas wins contract for EV charging stations in eight cities for eight years

The company is awaiting for the government to convert its debt to equity. The Union Cabinet had approved the conversion of Vodafone Idea’s adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues — and the interest thereon — to equity last September.

“We have secured all necessary approvals for converting dues into equity. SEBI has granted approval for equity conversion; the (proposal received a final nod from the Finance Ministry. The DoT is deliberating on the issue,” a government official had earlier told CNBC-TV18.

Vodafone Idea’ AGR dues stand at Rs 16,130, and once the government converts the interest on AGR dues into equity, the debt on Vodafone Idea’s books comes down by Rs 16,000 crore, and the government will be holding close to about a 33 percent equity stake.

Only once the government converts its stake into equity will external funding be possible for the Rs 2.2 lakh crore debt-ridden telecom conglomerate. Vodafone Idea is seeking to raise about Rs 10,000 crore of equity funds and Rs 10,000 crore of debt from banks to fund its 5G plans, but this has been on hold because of a lack of clarity on if and when the government will convert that equity.

In September, according to the data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), VIL’s growth in subscribers declined by 1.58 percent. Unlike its peers, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, VIL doesn’t yet have a proper plan in place for the introduction of 5G.

Disclaimer: RIL, the promoter of Reliance Jio, also controls Network18, the parent company of CNBCTV18.com.

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Here’s what to expect from industrial production, consumer and wholesale price indices’ data

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The government is set to release the industrial production (IIP) data, consumer price index (CPI) data and wholesale price index (WPI). The CPI data for November and IIP data for October is slated to be announced on December 12, while November’s WPI data will be released on December 14.

IIP Preview

The Index of Industrial Production or IIP measures the manufacturing activity in various sectors of an economy. IIP measures the amount of industrial production for the period under review — October, in this case — in comparison with a reference period. This macroeconomic data shows the state of various important economic sectors.

The IIP growth for October is expected to fall 0.8 percent, against 3.1 percent in September, and 3.2 percent in the year-ago period. The October IIP growth estimates range from a decline of 2 percent to a rise of 1 percent, according to a CNBC-TV18 poll.

The slowdown in global growth and weak rural demand will impact this key economic indicator. The growth of core sectors, which account for 40 percent of the IIP, slowed to a 20-month low of 0.1 percent in October, as per the official data released in November. Moreover, merchandise exports contracted by 17 percent in October to fall below $30 billion.

In September, the IIP growth stood at 3.1 percent, up from a decline of 0.8 percent in the preceding month.

Here’s how various sectors performed in September and August

Also Read: Need to make domestic industries & services strong by fixing their problems, says SC Garg

CPI Preview

The CPI is an index that measures retail inflation by examining the changes in prices of the most common consumer goods and services. It is calculated for a fixed list of items, including food, housing, apparel, transportation, electronics, medical care, education, etc.

CPI in November is seen at 6.3 percent against 6.8 percent in the preceding month and 4.9 percent in the year-ago period. According to a poll by CNBC-TV18, the November CPI estimates range from 6-6.5 percent.

November’s core CPI is expected to be reported at 6.2 percent, up from six percent in October as per the poll by CNBC-TV18 and the food inflation is seen at 5.8 percent, down from seven percent in the previous month.

For October, CPI stood at 6.8 percent against 7.4 percent in the preceding month and 4.5 percent in the year-ago period.

The inflation in November is seen cooling to a nine-month low, supported by a favourable base effect and moderation in prices. If CPI comes in at an estimated 6.3 percent, it would be the 11th consecutive month of inflation coming in above the 6 percent mark.

Also Read: Rupee-rouble trade with Russia remains on paper, says Rajya Sabha MP

WPI Preview

WPI measures the price changes of goods that wholesale businesses sell to and trade in bulk with other businesses. The index tracks factory gate prices before retail prices, unlike CPI, which tracks prices of goods and services purchased by consumers.

The November WPI is seen at 6.5 percent against 8.4 percent in the preceding month, and 14.2 percent in the year-ago period, as per a CNBC-TV18 poll. The October WPI came in at 8.4 percent against 10.7 percent in the preceding month, and 13.8 percent in the year-ago period. 

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Trident reports decline in production across businesses in November

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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[wealthdesk shortname=”Trident” isinid=”INE064C01022″ bseid=”521064″ nseid=”TRIDENT” sector=”Textiles – Spinning – Cotton Blended” exchange=”nse”]

Textiles and chemicals manufacturer Trident Ltd. reported a nearly 35 percent decline in production volume year-on-year in November 2022, led by a sharp fall in bed linen and yarn output.

The company said that its bath linen production volume declined by 7.52 percent year-on-year to 4,533 metric tonnes (MT) in November 2022 compared to 4,902 MT in the year-ago period.

Bed Linen volume dropped 35 percent to 2.21 million metres (MM) in November 2022 from 3.4 MM a year ago while yarn output declined 24 percent to 8,242 MT in the month from 10,894 MT a year ago.

Paper production also declined by nearly 7 percent to 12,061 MT in the month under review from 12,962 MT in the year-ago period.

However, chemical production rose by 3.23 percent to 9,164 MT in November 2022 from 8,877 MT a year ago, while on a monthly basis the output jumped nearly threefold from 3,173 MT in October 2022.

Except for paper, the production volume of bath linen, bed linen, and yarn rose up to 15 percent month-on-month compared to October 2022.

The Ludhiana-headquartered textiles maker announced this month that it received a patent for the ‘Fabric and Method of Manufacturing Fabric’ from the Patent Office India.

Trident Ltd. is the flagship company of the USD 3 billion conglomerate Trident Group. Trident is a vertically integrated textile (Yarn, Bath & Bed Linen) and Paper (Wheat Straw-based) manufacturer.

The company operates in three major business segments: textiles, paper, and chemicals. It has manufacturing facilities in Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.

Trident Ltd. reported a 15 percent decline in sales to Rs 14,37.67 crore in the September quarter compared to Rs 16,91.59 crore in the year-ago period. Its profit dropped sharply to Rs 37.39 crore from Rs 234.59 crore in the year-ago quarter.

Shares of Trident Ltd. are trading at Rs 36.60, up nearly 1 percent.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

HOEC shares rise after it resumes oil production in western offshore field

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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[wealthdesk shortname=”HOEC” isinid=”INE345A01011″ bseid=”500186″ nseid=”HINDOILEXP” sector=”Oil Drilling And Exploration” exchange=”nse”]

Hindustan Oil Exploration Company on Monday announced that it has resumed oil production from the D-1 well in its B-80 field, located in the western offshore, after repair work of a leak in the SCSSV control line.

Shares of the company rose by 3.31 percent to Rs 143.75 on the BSE in morning deals after the announcement.

The D-1 well was closed for production in June this year due to the leak. Last month, the company announced that it was resuming gas production from the D-2 well in the B-80 field, which was temporarily closed since mid-July due to some technical fault.

Currently, production from both wells is underway, and the flow rate of oil and gas of both D1 and D2 wells is about 1800 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and about 9 Million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas, less than the capacity of the wells.

The production was, however, restricted from both wells due to the capacity limitation of the test separator through which the fluids are flowing now since the High-Pressure Separator is under repair.

HOEC expects to ramp up the production to the intended capacity once the high-pressure separator is online, according to the filing.

The company Block B-80 is spread over a 56 square kilometre area in the Western Offshore and was awarded under the First Discovered Small Field (DSF) in March 2017.

HOEC is the Operator of this field with a 60 percent participating interest and 40 percent held by Adbhoot Estates Private Ltd.

Under the terms of the Revenue Sharing Contract (RSC), the oil and gas produced from this Block enjoy marketing and pricing freedom.

Shares of HOEC are trading at Rs 144.50, up 3.77 percent.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Celebrating Christmas in Goa? Check out these 5 activities to relax and enjoy the holidays

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The coldest and most beautiful month in India is December. The weather is as enticing as ever at this time of year. The outdoors are filled with melancholic music, the sun is warm, the ocean waves are at their most carefree and people are nearer than ever. During the month, Goa, a former Portuguese colony in India becomes hyperactive with tourists flocking its sandy shores to celebrate Christmas on December 25.

While the rest of the country prepares to greet the New Year. Christmas in Goa is a spectacular festival, with lights and decorations covering every available surface.

Christmas carols are sung in every nook and corner of the sunny state as the air is filled with the aroma of scented candles during Christmas. If you consider to celebrating Christmas in India, there is no better place than Goa to be in. You can take your friends out for a night under the stars to see the fireworks and listen to chimes of church bells.

Check out these top 5 holiday activities to enjoy in Goa

At Christmas time, the whole state of Goa becomes a glistening, bride-ready celebration. Numerous venues in Old Goa and North Goa become ideal for a Christmas party. Ancient buildings, especially from the Middle Ages, dot the landscape. Explore the streets of Goa, where celebrations are held in every square inch of the state and don’t miss the Christmas carnival. Below are a few of the top things to do in Goa during the Christmas season to indulge in a memorable holiday.

Also read: Goa’s second international airport inaugurated

Christmas dances and live music festivals

There are specially organised Christmas dances, where live bands play all sorts of music for evryone to enjoy. From ballroom dancing to bhangda and electric music, these dances have something for people of all ages, to enjoy in a wholesome family time.

Deep-sea diving

Goa vacation packages often include scuba diving and snorkeling as optional activities. Colorful corals, shells, and fish of various sizes and hues may be seen by scuba divers. Clear waters can be seen through to a depth of 10 meters. The water in Goa is calm and gentle, perfect for novices. The state is a scuba diver’s paradise. Among these are Bounty Bay, Davy Jones Locker, and Uma Guma Reef.

Sal Backwater Kayaking Tour

Goa’s beaches, bays, backwaters, and rivers are some of the state’s most recognizable landmarks. Paddling through the Sal Backwaters is a great way to get up close to the diverse wildlife in the area. Intriguing streams wind their way through the towns. You may see a variety of local birds when strolling along the riverbanks. The months of October through May are prime times for exploring the backcountry.

Villages dedicated to fishing may be found all around Goa, and river fishing is a popular pastime there. There is a lot of fishing to see and do if you take a kayaking trip. The waterways also reach many otherwise inaccessible areas. Birds, both migratory and permanent, often make their homes in such areas. Avian experts and enthusiasts may be able to identify some unusual species here.

Enjoyable and simple, kayaking requires just the use of proper safety gear. Absolutely no previous knowledge is needed.

Take a day trip to the islands.

Many islands surround Goa and one can take boat ride to one of these islands to a day trip. And if you are lucky enough, you’ll even get to see dolphins bobbing around in the sea.

Adventure in a Banana Boat

Numerous beaches in Goa, including Candolim Beach, Baga Beach, and Colva Beach, provide opportunities for this thrilling pastime. The Banana Boat, so named because of its yellow color, is simply a bathtub. On the water, it is towed by a motorboat and is long and cylindrical. The difficulty is in maintaining control of this shaky vessel. Any time you lose your footing and fall off, you have to begin the process from square one.

In comparison to other forms of aquatic recreation, this one is far less risky. Banana boating sometimes referred to as a sea sled, is rapidly growing in popularity. Life jackets and other safety gear are used whenever this is attempted. The motorboat driver tries his hardest to flip the banana boat over while maneuvering it. The ones on top need to use their counterbalancing abilities to prevent this from happening.

Sailing the Mandovi River at Sunset

Christmas is a great time to visit Goa, where you may take a trip down the river or have a party on a private boat with your friends. Taking a sail on the Mandovi River on Christmas Eve is a great way to soak in the spirit of the season. A Christmas party in Goa wouldn’t be complete without a boat ride on the ocean at night. It is possible to arrange a romantic candlelight meal if you are with your special someone. Make a reservation for yourself right now.

Making a crib or a star? Enter the contest!

The Goan Christmas festivities sometimes include a visit to a crib. Everyone from architects to home decorators to furniture designers takes part in these contests, all of which result in a wide range of inventive products. The most well-known depictions are those of Jesus’ hometown. Additionally, there is a high-spirited tournament of a greater size that aims to create local stars.

Cherry, date, plum, and dry fruit are mixed with rum, whiskey, wine, and other libations to mark special occasions, and you may learn how to make these cocktails at a cake-mixing ceremony or in a gourmet class. Going “crib hopping” in Goa, as well as seeing performances and attending Christmas parties all across Goa, will also be quite popular.

All year long, visitors flock to the “Sun, Sand, and Sea” region for the exciting events, buzzing atmosphere, and enthusiastic crowds that can be found there. The indigenous people of Goa, with their warm hospitality and generous spirit, are a delight to encounter. Goa’s spice farms are among the state’s more unusual tourist attractions. Learn about different spices as you take a stroll around a freshly planted plantation.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow