The Shillong Times News

By Manas Kumar Bhattacharjya In lush green grasslands of Assams key protected areas, where the majestic presence of the one-horned Indian rhinoceros adds tremendous value to the biodiversity, one mans vision has quietly transformed the way India understands conservation of this ancient animal species. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Ph.D., is not merely a wildlife scientist []

SYDNEY, Dec 14: At least 11 people were killed and 29 wounded on Sunday when two gunmen opened fire during a Jewish holiday celebration at Sydneys Bondi Beach, Australian authorities said, declaring the assault a terrorist attack. One gunman was fatally shot by police, while the second was arrested and remains in critical condition. Two []

BERLIN, Dec 14: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US envoys arrived in Berlin on Sunday for another round of talks aimed at negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian, US, and European officials would hold a series of meetings, including a personal discussion with US President Donald Trumps special envoy Steve []

Peshawar, Dec 14: Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Chief Minister Suhail Afridi on Sunday said that systematic efforts are underway to suppress jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Addressing a public gathering in Kohat district, around 65 km southwest of Peshawar, Afridi also warned the federal government that if Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), of which he []

Providence, Dec 14: Police in Rhode Island have taken a person of interest into custody following a mass shooting at Brown University that killed two people and wounded nine others during final exams. Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez said early Sunday that the detained individual is in their 30s and that authorities are not []

Dhaka, Dec 14: Bangladeshs interim government on Saturday decided to roll out the second phase of Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 across the country, citing the need to prevent subversive activities using illegal arms ahead of the February 2026 elections, the local media reported. Addressing journalists in Dhaka, the interim governments Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam []

Mumbai, Dec 14: With four wins across the six boards, Mumba Masters delivered a dominant performance in front of the home crowd, overpowering Ganges Grandmasters 174 in a one-sided encounter on the opening day of the Global Chess League (GCL). Earlier, at Mumbais Royal Opera House, reigning champions Triveni Continental Kings set about their title []

Chennai, Dec 14: Hosts India were crowned Squash World Cup champions for the first time after registering a commanding 30 victory over top seeds Hong Kong, China, in the final at Express Avenue Mall in Chennai on Sunday. The victory marked a significant moment for Indian squash as the team became only the fifth nation []

Poor Air Quality New Delhi, Dec 14: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed Delhi and NCR state governments to ensure the immediate suspension of all outdoor physical sports activities, warning that continued conduct of such events amid poor air quality poses a serious health risk to children. In a letter to the []

Washington DC, Dec 14: The global professional wrestling fraternity, including current and former WWE superstars, legends and fans, paid glowing tributes to John Cena as the iconic wrestler officially brought the curtain down on his illustrious in-ring career spanning more than two decades. Cena, a record-breaking 17-time world champion, competed in his final professional wrestling []

A year-long autopsy-based study conducted by the AIIMS, New Delhi, found no scientific evidence linking Covid-19 vaccination to sudden deaths among young adults, reaffirming that the vaccines are safe and effective. The study, titled Burden of Sudden Death in Young Adults: A One-Year Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Centre in India, has been published []

A newly discovered biological signal in the blood could help health care teams and researchers better understand how children respond to brain injuries at the cellular level, according to our research in the Journal of Neurotrauma. In the future, this information could help clinicians identify children who need more tailored follow-up care after a traumatic []

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, slowly recovering from the shock his party received in the Bihar assembly polls, has asserted that he would uphold truth and strive to defeat Modi and Shah. This looks more like wishful thinking. The BJP is unassailable in several states; and the principal opposition, the Congress, is losing its relevance, including []

By Jairaj Chettry (Based on a compilation from different sources) Across India, a quiet undercurrent of unease has begun reshaping everyday conversations. One hears it in the way people linger a little longer at tea stalls, speaking in lowered tones; in the staff rooms of schools where teachers pause between discussions of lessons and students; []

ADELAIDE, Dec 14: Mitchell Starcs recent run in Test cricket has reignited a fascinating debate around his place in history, particularly when it comes to one of the most decisive moments in the game the very first over of an innings. With a series of match-defining spells across different conditions and continents, the Australian []

By Chiranjib Haldar At a recent literature festival, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar lauded that many positive changes have been introduced in history textbooks and the epithet the great is no longer used to describe Mughal emperor Akbar or Mysore patriarch Tipu Sultan. He reiterated gleefully that though the National Council of Educational []

PREMIER League London, Dec 14: Sunderland claimed a derby victory that will live long in the memory as Nick Woltemades second-half own goal handed the Black Cats a precious Premier League win over arch-rivals Newcastle United at a raucous Stadium of Light. The first top-flight Wear-Tyne derby in nearly a decade crackled with emotion, intensity []

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Pune, Dec 14: Young Andhra batter Hemanth Reddy proved way too strong-willed in the face of some hostile bowling from Punjab as he smashed an unbeaten 109 to lead his side to a thrilling five-wicket win in a high-scoring Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League A match, here Sunday. Reddy, playing []

Ambi, Dec 14: Ignored by national selectors in T20 set-up, Yashasvi Jaiswal sent another stern reminder to the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee with a blistering 48-ball century as defending champions Mumbai crushed Haryana by four wickets in a high-scoring Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League B match here on Sunday. Having tamely surrendered to Hyderabad []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Dec 14: It promised much and the final of the SSA Champions Cup here on Saturday certainly delivered as Nongkseh overturned a one goal deficit to beat Shillong Lajong 2-1 in a game that will be remembered for a long time, perhaps as the moment that Nongkseh truly announced themselves as []

Barcelona, Dec 14: Raphinha scored a brace as Barcelona beat Osasuna 2-0 to increase its La Liga lead and pile more pressure on beleaguered Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso. The Brazil forward broke the deadlock with a shot from the top of the area in the 70th minute at Camp Nou. He then put the []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Dec 14: The All Meghalaya Karate Do Association has announced a 15-member squad that will represent the state at the 69th School Games Federation of India (SGFI) Under-14 Karate Championship, scheduled to be held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, from December 14 to 19, 2025. The Meghalaya contingent will be led by []

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its long-standing guidance about vaccines and autism. The guidance once stated clearly and correctly that the evidence shows no link between vaccines and the development of autism. Now it claims studies supporting a link (between vaccines and autism) have been ignored by health []

Though China and Japan are experienced in dealing with diplomatic crises, relations between the two neighbours appear to have reached a new low. And this time, their conflict may not be easily resolved. Whats behind the latest crisis and whats driving the escalation? The current round of tensions was triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae []

This week, US President Donald Trump approved previously banned exports of Nvidias powerful H200 artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China. In return, the US government will receive 25 per cent of the sales revenue, in what has become a hallmark of this administration to take a sales cut of a private companys revenues. The H200 []

India take on confident Proteas in 3rd T20I today with series tied at 1-1 DharamsHala, Dec 13: The countdown to save his place in the playing XI begins for a beleaguered Shubman Gill, who is likely to get three matches against South Africa to prove his worth before the Indian team management switches to a []

SHILLONG: Meghalaya-o Jal Jeevan Mission-ni contractor-rang uamangni mana nangnigipa kror 700 tangkako sorkarini watako nichake dongengon adoko scheme-ko ragatanioba chusokgipa ongjaenga. JJM -ni dashboard-o mesokani gita, adokni ge 6,46,304 nokdangrang chi pipeko mana nangachim indiba ia scheme-ko ragatani adita bilsirang ongomangba 5,37,402 (83.15%) nokdangrangsan chiko mankuenga. Meghalaya-o ia scheme-ko ragataniko niatgenchimode dashboard-ni gita, Meghalaya-ni dam []

SHILLONG: Garo Hills-o chongipa jatrangna gesa Minority Regional Council-ko bikote onchina dabienganiko Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) rakgen jegalaha, aro iako songe ongenchimode ia Achik manderangni constitutional rights ba bil-rengsiko pea gaakgen ine aganaha. Regional council-ko songchina uamangni dee rabaaniara, Indian Constitution-ni Sixth Schedule-ko jegala gaakenga, je bilkon Garo Hills-o songdonggipa Achik tribal jatrangna, []

In a rare and star-studded moment, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan met football legend Lionel Messi on Saturday in Kolkata, marking one of the most-awaited encounters during the GOAT India Tour 2025. The Argentine superstar, who is in the city as part of his pan-India tour, was present at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt []

Peter Greene, best known for his roles in Pulp Fiction and The Mask, has passed away. He was 60. The actor was found dead in his Lower East Side apartment in New York City on Friday, December 12, his manager Gregg Edwards confirmed in a statement. Greenes cause of death has not been disclosed yet. []

Kareena Kapoor Khan at an event, in Vikhroli in Mumbai, on Friday. (PTI)

Bollywood couple Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal spoke in favour of social media ban for kids in India, following the footsteps of Australia. During a panel discussion, which took place in MET (Mumbai Education Trust) College, Mumbai, Sonakshi and Zaheer were asked to comment on Australias social media ban for people aged under 16. Reacting []

Japanese filmmaker Akio Fujimotos Lost Land the first feature film shot entirely in the Rohingya language has bagged the Best Film Award at the Red Sea International Film Festival this year. The Rohingya refugee drama took home the top prize, the Golden Yusr for best film, along with a cash prize of USD []

TURA: Tura-ni Danakgre Akingo donggipa aarangko adok sorkari, akangdrana jotton kaenga ine Tura-ni MDC aro BJP-ni state vice president Bernard N Marak parakatenba, ia aani lekkarangko Tura GHADC constituency-ni ningo donggipa dingtang dingtang gittimni manderangna sualaniko dontongchina dabiangaha. Iani bidingo West Garo Hills ajani Deputy Commissioner-na badi kae sedoatengon, Tura GHADC constituency-ni ningo donggipa dam []

Actor Ibrahim Ali Khan during the Mini X Esquire India event in Mumbai, on Friday. (PTI)

New Delhi, Dec 13: Nifty 50 and Nifty Midcap 150 emerged as best-performing indices in November, with a growth of 1.87 per cent and 1.59 per cent, respectively, a report said on Saturday. Meanwhile, Nifty 50 outperformed with a return of 7.27 per cent, 5.87 per cent, and 8.59 per cent over the last 3 []

From Our Correspondent TURA, Dec 13: Eight localities in Tura town, comprising 754 households, were overwhelmed with tears of joy on Friday as they were finally awarded periodic lease documents for the land they had been living on for years. These families have long resided on encroached government land, facing uncertainty and difficulties. The documents []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 13: Winter Tales 2025 concluded on Saturday, drawing the curtain on a three-day showcase that brought together artisans, entrepreneurs and emerging brands, while spotlighting creativity rooted in craftsmanship, innovation and community engagement. The annual event saw strong visitor participation, with displays of handcrafted works spanning pottery, cane and bamboo, textiles []

Sylvanus Lamare delves into Khasi history at a session organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 13: Noted scholar and translator Sylvanus Lamare on Saturday shared rich insights into the evolution of Khasi literature, language, and history during an interactive session held under the Ka Umpohliew series, organised by the Prabha Khaitan []

From Our Correspondent MAWKYRWAT, Dec 13: The proposed transfer of senior officers from South West Khasi Hills has drawn objections from two pressure groups, the Khasi Students Union (KSU) Mawkyrwat Circle and the Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) South West Khasi Hills District, which have warned that the move will halt critical development in the []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 13: Renowned musician and cultural icon Lou Majaw was honoured with the Shyntor Excellence Award for Lifetime Contribution to Music and Cultural Heritage at the Shyntor Excellence Award ceremony held at Shyntor Bulia village in Ri-Bhoi district. The award ceremony formed a key highlight of the three-day Shyntor Festival 2025, []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 13: Women in Meghalaya are leading the way in waste management, setting a benchmark by achieving notable success in waste segregation. The Lainehskhem Self-Help Group (SHG), popularly called Merry Maidens of Shillong, has been an inspiration in this regard. It has evolved into an organisation that effectively runs a Waste []

SHILLONG, Dec 12: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday paid a visit to the Shillong Medical College campus at the old Pasteur Institute in Lawmali and interacted with the first MBBS batch of the College. He called their entry into the institution a historic moment for Meghalayas medical education sector and hoped that they []

Probe under way into Rs 1,575-cr investment fraud run through a website operated from Shillong under the banner of Pearlvine International between 2018 and March 2023 SHILLONG, Dec 12: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Shillong Sub-Zonal Office, has provisionally attached assets worth Rs 17.91 crore in connection with a large-scale investment fraud run through the website []

GUWAHATI, Dec 12: The Special Investigation Team, probing the death of Zubeen Garg, charged four accusedthe singers secretary Siddhartha Sharma, festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, and band members, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahantawith murder in the charge sheet filed in a court here on Friday.

Winter Tales: Day 2 SHILLONG, Dec 12: The second day of Meghalayas sixth edition of the community-led annual festival Winter Tales on Friday transformed the iconic Wards Lake into a convergence of sustainability, storytelling, and intellectual exchange. Building on the opening days momentum, Fridays agenda broadened the festivals exploration of this years theme Nurture, with []

SHILLONG, Dec 12: In an age when artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of image-making, iconic photographer Pablo Bartholomew came to Shillong with a quiet reminder: the deepest photographs are still born from lived memory, stubborn solitude, and time spent with people the world prefers to forget. Speaking to The Shillong Times on the sidelines []

SHILLONG, Dec 12: Meghalayas renowned conservationist Betsida CH Marak was awarded the Green Guru Award at the 13th Balipara Foundation Awards, held on December 11 in Guwahati, in recognition of her tireless work to protect the western hoolock gibbon and promote community-led environmental stewardship in the Garo Hills. The 13th edition of the awards celebrated []

NEW DELHI, Dec 12: Legendary rock band Def Leppard is all set to perform in Shillong on March 25 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Polo Grounds). The band will then perform in Mumbai on March 27, 2026, at Jio World Garden and Bengaluru on March 29, 2026, at NICE Grounds. Excited about their tour, Joe []