The Shillong Times

The BJP has dismissed allegations by Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman that shifting power dynamics and potential communal bias in the Hindi film industry have reduced his work opportunities in recent years. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and other BJP leaders emphasized that the industry operates on talent and merit, not religion, citing the continued success of []

Actress Melissa Rauch, best known as Bernadette Rostenkowski from The Big Bang Theory, reminisced about her 2016, sharing that her camera roll was filled with moments on the shows set alongside co-stars Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, and Mayim Bialik. She also shared glimpses from the sports comedy The Bronze. []

SHILLONG, Jan 16: The Meghalaya government has made substantial progress with its statewide CCTV surveillance programme, with a majority of cameras under the first phase already installed. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma indicated that of the initial batch, 227 CCTV cameras have been installed, accounting for roughly 70 to 80 per cent of the planned []

SHILLONG, Jan 16: In what can be deemed a proud moment for Meghalaya, Iarisha Kharbhoi, an Aapda Mitra volunteer from East Khasi Hills district, has been invited as a special guest to attend the Republic Day Celebration 2026 in New Delhi, in recognition of her exemplary service in the field of disaster management. A trained []

TURA, Jan 16: BJP leader and GHADC MDC from Tura, Bernard Marak, has been appointed the Meghalaya state president of the Amit Shah Youth Brigade (ASYB). He was appointed through an appointment letter issued on December 31, 2025. The ASYB is a non-profit organisation focused on empowering Indian youths through social service, national unity and []

SHILLONG, Jan 16: Meghalaya has been recognised as a Leader for its efforts in building a robust and vibrant startup ecosystem during the National Startup Day celebration held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on Friday. During the programme, Meghalaya was also conferred a Certificate of Appreciation under the States Startup Ecosystem Ranking (5th Edition). The []

Telugu superstar Allu Arjun set Tokyo abuzz during his recent visit to Japan, where he addressed fans in Japanese and even delivered a popular dialogue from Pushpa 2: The Rule in the language, drawing massive cheers and applause. Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna visited the country as part of promotions ahead of the films grand []

SHILLONG, Jan 16: The Hynniewtrep Youths Council (HYC) has strongly condemned the circulation of derogatory, inappropriate and deeply insensitive content targeting women from the Khasi community through an application known as Nolo. In a statement, the HYC said such content is not only misogynistic and demeaning but also constitutes a direct attack on the dignity, []

SHILLONG, Jan 16: The state government has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline the process of granting permission to government employees for private foreign travel. While prior permission remains mandatory, the new SOP aims to ensure a uniform, transparent and time-bound procedure for issuing No Objection Certificates (NOC) while safeguarding administrative and security []

SHILLONG, Jan 17: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Friday approved proposals to extend the services of a senior government official and re-engage retired officers serving in various capacities, citing the need for continuity amid ongoing projects and administrative responsibilities. Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the Cabinet approved a []

From Our Correspondent Nongpoh, Jan 16: The Meghalaya Weightlifting Association (MWA) has announced that the second edition of the ASMITA Weightlifting League will be held in Ri Bhoi district as part of efforts to scout and groom emerging talent from across the state. MWA president Donald Rymbai, speaking to the press alongside association secretary Batskhem []

Editor, Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the authorities, civil society, and the general public to a deeply concerning issue affecting our indigenous people. An inappropriate mobile application (NOLO) is currently being circulated widely through social media platforms, and its impact on our communityespecially the younger generationis []

The MDA Government appears to be a one-man army with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma answering questions on every issue under the Meghalaya sky. Normally the cabinet which comprises 12 ministers, the Chief Minister included should appear to be a collective body where any minister should be able to answer questions upfront to the media. But []

By Lillian Anjum Smale Growing up, in an educated mixed marriage, I was exposed to ideas, values, concepts that many even now would believe to be too perfect for todays world. I remember the times when my Nana would bring me onto his lap and tell me the stories of fighters and soldiers and the []

By Dapbianglin Sohkhlet Among the indigenous Khasi community, words have never been understood as a mere form of communication. ka ktien ka thylliej, words are believed to carry power, power that heals and power that harms, power that blesses and power that curses. This belief, preserved across generations, lies at the very heart of Khasi []

SHILLONG: Gittamgipa changna Cabinet Retreat-ko Sukrobar salo, Mawkasiang-o ongatangaha aro ia tomanio, Class VI-oni Class X-ona Community-Integrated Skill Learning (CISL)-ko abachengatna aro Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) porikkao private candidate-rangko sena onna gita gital niam baksana dingtang dingtang kamrangkoba Cabinet rachakangaha. Skulrango CISL-ko abachengatani gimin talataniko onangengon, dao dipet Health & Physical Education-ko Class VI-oni []

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Legislative Assembly-ni budget session-ko rebaenggipa February 16 tarikoni 27 tarikona ongatna manchisoengani gimin State Reservation Policy (SRP)-ni bidingo expert committee-ni ongipa report-ko budget session-ona raange chanchirimgen ine Sukrobar salo, adokni Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma parakataha. Sukrobar salo, Cabinet Retreat-ko ongatani jaman kobor ratimgipa manderang baksa agangrikengon, Reservation Policy-ni bidingo expert committee-ni ongipa []

TURA:Adita salrangna skang, West Garo Hills ajani Rajabala jolo donggipa Goalgaon songo, Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) dolni membor-rangko chadrape, membor-rangoni saksa Dilseng M Sangma-ko sootanina police-rang, mande sakgniko rimdapna manaha aro ia aselna rimako mangiparang dao sakdok gapengaha. Reanggipa January-ni 9 tarik salpaksakchibara, Rajabala jolo niam gri chalaienggipa roong quarry-ko chipatna reange rebapilengmiting []

TURA:Adita salrangna skang,West Garo Hills ajani Rajabala jolo donggipa Goalgaon songo, ACHIK dolni membor-rangko masina mangijagipa manderangni chadrapanichi, chadrapako mangipa manderangoni saksa janggiko gimaatna nangahani gimin Garo Hills-ni Achik Contractors Union (ACU)-ba raken jegalataha aro ia aselo jak donggipa pilak manderangkon tarake rimchina sorkario dabiangaha. Lt Dilseng M Sangma-ko sootani gimin chinga Achik Contractors Union []

Biplab Kr Dey Tura, Jan 16: West Garo Hills (WGH) police tasted further success in apprehending 2 more suspects in the assault and murder of ACHIK member, Dilseng M Sangma, bringing the total of those arrested to 6. On Jan 9, members of ACHIK who had gone to inspect and shut down an illegal stone []

EFL CUP London, Jan 15: Arsenal scored two goals off errors by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to set up a 3-2 win at Chelsea in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinals on Wednesday. A corner sailed over Sanchez in the seventh minute, allowing Ben White to head into an unguarded net, before the []

London, Jan 15: Cole Palmers injury-blighted season has been interrupted again because of a minor thigh strain, Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior said Wednesday. Palmer missed the 3-2 loss to Arsenal in the English League Cup semifinals and his fitness will be monitored ahead of Chelseas next game at home to Brentford in the Premier []

Roma, Jan 15: Roma signed 18-year-old forward Robinio Vaz from Marseille for a reported transfer fee of 25 million euros ($29 million) on Wednesday. The French teenager signed a contract until 2030, the Serie A club said in its announcement. Neither team confirmed the fee. A quick and agile forward with good dribbling ability, Vaz []

Milan, Jan 15: A frustrating evening for Napoli saw it held to a 0-0 draw at home by lowly Parma as the defending champion lost more ground in the title race Wednesday. The result saw third-placed Napoli slip six points behind Serie A leader Inter Milan, which ground out a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Lecce. []

Munich, Jan 15: There was plenty of smoke, but Bayern Munich needed time to show some fire. In a game held up for 10 minutes because flare smoke covered the field, 17-year-old Lennart Karls fourth Bundesliga goal of a breakout season helped Bayern to a 3-1 win at Cologne in the Bundesliga on Wednesday. With []

Madrid, Jan 15: Alvaro Arbeloa got off to a dismal start as the new coach of Real Madrid, seeing his team lose to second-division club Albacete 3-2 and drop out of the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 on Wednesday. Jefte Betancor scored the game-winning goal four minutes into stoppage time to send []

Milan, Jan 15: Greenland biathlete Ukaleq Slettemark is chasing qualification for the MilanCortina Winter Olympics, but her focus is being overshadowed by geopolitical turmoil back home. The 25-year-old admitted she is gripped by fear as former U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly claims the United States should take control of Greenland. Its frightening, Slettemark told The []

A host of Bollywood personalities, including Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, stepped out of their homes and voted in the Mumbai civic body polls on Thursday with hope right candidates will win and tackle crucial issues, from infrastructure challenges to pollution. Actors Hema Malini, Saira Banu, Shabana Azmi, John Abraham, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena []

Veteran actor Bishnu Kharghoria, known for his performances in films such as Xagoroloi Bohudoor, Firingoti and Kollol, will be conferred the Lifetime Achievement Honour by the Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) 2026 in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema, the organisers said. Kharghorias contribution to Indian cinema, especially to Assamese films, is profound and []

People who are not creative have the power now to decide things and this might have been a communal thing Less work has been coming his way, says celebrated music composer A R Rahman, attributing it to a power shift within the Hindi film industry in the last eight years and also perhaps to a []

SHILLONG: Ia sal somoirango CM Connect program-ko ongate, adokni Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, ranggitik adokni manderangko gronge agangrikrongengani gimin Tura-ni MP Saleng A Sangma matnangataha. Iani bidingo kobor ratimgipa manderang baksa agangrikengon, CM Connect program-ni miksonganiara namachim indiba daosa maini gimin ua ranggitik adokni manderangko gronge agangrikna somoi raskaenga ine Saleng singdoataha. Batanggimin bilsi []

By Kavya Aggarwal If the universe was a soundtrack, we have been humming it our whole life. Every atom in our body, every star in the sky, every beam of light is part of a piece of music that never stops playing. String theory asks us to imagine that beneath everything we see and touch []

BCB tries to pacify with action against Najmul ISLAM Dhaka, Jan 15: The crisis-ridden Bangladesh Cricket Board stared at the prospect of its flagship T20 league coming to a halt after senior national players revolted against it for not sacking director Najmul Islam for his disparaging comments against them even though the BCB removed him []

Bengaluru, Jan 15: The unflappable Aman Mokhade struck his fifth hundred of this seasons Vijay Hazare Trophy, powering Vidarbha to a smooth six-wicket victory over defending champions Karnataka and to the tournaments final here on Thursday. Mokhade (131, 122 balls) and R Samarth (76 not out, 69b) were the lead actors in Vidarbhas 284 for []

Dhaka, Jan 15: Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has backed Tamim Iqbals recent remarks on the ongoing T20 World Cup venue uncertainty, urging that all decisions must safeguard the long-term interests of Bangladesh cricket. In a conversation with BDCricTime, the veteran all-rounder acknowledged that clarity remains elusive over the countrys position regarding participation in []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Jan 15: The state government on Thursday described the reported threat issued by the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) against Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, president of the Voice of the People Party (VPP), as a serious matter and made it clear that intimidation of any individual is unacceptable, regardless of status. []

MUMBAI, Jan 15: Jasmine Shekar got off to a flying start in the new season as she won the opening leg of the Hero Womens Pro Golf Tour 2026 at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club on Thursday. The 20-year-old Bengaluru golfer completed a wire-to-wire win as she compiled the weeks best card of 5-under 65, []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Jan 15: With the railway issue continuing to divide opinion, the state government on Thursday said sustained dialogue, not confrontation, is the only way forward. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma reiterated that his stand on rail connectivity has remained consistent. I am very clear on the railways. Once we have dialogue []

INDIA OPEN NEW DELHI, Jan 15: Former champion Lakshya Sen produced a composed and tactical performance to progress to the quarterfinals of the USD 950,000 India Open Super 750 badminton tournament but Kidambi Srikanth and H S Prannoy bowed out after a spirited show here on Thursday. The top mens doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Jan 15: The Commissionerate of Food Safety, Meghalaya, is awaiting test results from fish samples imported from Assam to check for heavy metals, especially lead, exceeding safe limits. This follows a recent DownToEarth report revealing unsafe lead levels in several fish species sold in Guwahati markets. Samples collected from markets across []

MELBOURNE, Jan 15: Coco Gauff and Venus Williams could meet in the second round of the Australian Open, another potential chapter in a tennis tale that started with a 15-year-old on her Grand Slam debut beating a seven-time major winner at Wimbledon. Gauff thanked Williams for being such an inspiration for her career after that []

Dancers perform at Rongpur Mela on the first day of Magh Bihu at Sivasagar, Assam, on Thursday. (UB)

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Jan 15: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday described the ongoing administrative turmoil at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) as very unfortunate, highlighting its severe impact on students and employees of the central institution. He clarified that the state governments role is limited to mediation, as NEHU operates directly under []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Jan 15: An Online Pension Application Module aimed at digitising Meghalayas pension process was launched by the Office of the Principal Accountant General (A&E), Meghalaya, on Thursday. The new module is integrated with the existing e-Pension portal. It was inaugurated by Principal Accountant General L Hangsing in the presence of Finance []

Actor Kiefer Sutherland was arrested on suspicion of criminal threats early Monday morning after Los Angeles police say he assaulted a ride-hail driver. Just after midnight, officers responded to a call reporting an assault at an intersection just south of Hollywood Hills. The Los Angeles Police Department said they determined Sutherland entered a ride-hail vehicle, []

In this digital era, it is not uncommon for people to pass on incorrect information or even pretend to be someone else, and something similar has happened with Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel. Ameesha used social media to raise concern about an imposter passing off a fake number as hers, most likely in an attempt to []

Hollywood star Zoe Saldana has emerged as the highest-grossing leading actor of all time at the worldwide box office, bagging the top position at the global rankings following the release of blockbuster success of Avatar: Fire and Ash According to box office tracking website Numbers, which compiles worldwide data on the top 100 stars in []

National Award-winning filmmaker Rima Das is set to return to the Berlin International Film Festival with her latest feature Not a Hero, which will have its world premiere in the Generation Kplus Competition at the 76th edition of the festival next month. The film will premiere on February 14, 2026, marking Dass third selection at []

Actors Salman Khan and Kriti Sanon during the wedding reception of singer Stebin Ben and actor Nupur Sanon, in Mumbai, on Tuesday. (PTI)