The Shillong Times

Nepali film Elephants in the Fog has been selected to represent Nepal at the 99th Academy Awards. The International Feature Film Selection Committee (Nepal) had received two films including Gauthali for consideration. However, the committee announced Elephants in the Fog (Tiniharu) will represent Nepal in the Oscar in 2027. After a thorough evaluation of both []

Sushant Singhs manager Disha Salian case The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named Bollywood actors Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, and Rhea Chakraborty in the FIR registered on Monday in connection with the death of Disha Salian. The development follows the Bombay High Courts direction to register an FIR in the case and ordered a []

Where is empathy? Why does this has to be pointed out again and again, said composer Amaal Mallik after not getting credit for his composition in the 2015 film Hero. Mallik composed the title track Main Hoon Hero Tera, which was sung by his brother Armaan Malik and later rendered by Salman Khan. It had []

New Hormuz entry and exit routes Cairo, Sep 14: An Iranian cargo vessel was struck early Sunday off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said, and Tehran postponed a plan to brief neighbouring countries on its contested efforts to manage shipping in the strait. The attack drew attention back to the []

Islamabad, Sep 14: The Punjab government has imposed a ban on all kinds of gatherings across the province until September 17, ahead of a planned protest by former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party in the federal capital. Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, had announced a tour of 13 cities of Punjab []

SHILLONG, Sep 14: Work has begun on expanding Shillong Airport, with a larger domestic passenger terminal and a longer runway at the core of the plan. The proposed new domestic terminal will grow from 5,000 sq m to 10,550 sq m, more than doubling the existing floor area. The runway is to be extended from []

SHILLONG, Sep 14: VPP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit has questioned Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) president Aristotle Rymbais opposition to the partys demand for the removal of Education Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar Mantri, and raised questions over Rymbais alleged association with the ruling NPP. Basaiawmoit said the VPPs demand was not driven by any []

SHILLONG, Sep 14: While a large section of teachers has opposed the Voice of the People Partys call for the removal of Education Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar Mantri, deficit school teachers struck a different note on Monday, refusing to join that defence and pressing their own charge that the official has caused hurt and []

SHILLONG, Sep 14: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday handed over Rs 20,000 relocation assistance each to street vendors shifted to designated vending zones at Barik and Dhankheti, assuring them of government support during the transition. Each of the relocated vendors will receive Rs 10,000 immediately through Direct Benefit Transfer and Rs 2,000 a []

SHILLONG, Sep 14: With Durga Puja just a month away, Shillong has already slipped into a festive mood as pandals take shape and committees work through the last stretch of preparations. The District Administration and the Central Puja Committee (CPC) have begun mapping arrangements to keep the celebrations peaceful. The five-day celebrations will be held []

By Abhijit Deb Shillong, Sep 14: Long before packaged snacks, roadside eateries and modern food-delivery systems reached the Garo Hills, farmers working in jhum fields had a simple way of dealing with hunger they ate what the land around them provided. A newly published study on indigenous food systems in the Garo Hills has []

SHILLONG, Sep 14: The Hills Farmers Union (HFU) on Monday demanded compensation for pig farmers hit by the recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) and a waiver of Piggery Mission loans, accusing the Meghalaya government of failing to ensure proper health screening of pigs entering the state. Talking to reporters after an HFU delegations []

JOWAI, Sep 14: The Central Executive Committee of the Jaintia National Council (JNC) has submitted representations to the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), demanding strict adherence to regulatory procedures regarding the proposed Shree Cement project at Lum Syrman. The council urged both bodies to maintain the []

New Delhi, Sep 13: Marcus Trescothick is uncertain about his future with the England Test side, as Stephen Fleming is set to take over as the permanent head coach. Trescothick served as the interim head coach of the Three Lions during their recent historic 3-0 home victory over Pakistan, following Brendon McCullums departure from the []

DHAKA, Sep 13: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is exploring the possibility of playing a bilateral series against Nepal before the end of the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle in 2027. The development follows an invitation from the Nepal Cricket Association (CAN), which has expressed its interest in hosting Bangladesh for a bilateral series. []

LAHORE, Sep 13: Mike Hesson has expressed his willingness to continue as Pakistans Test coach after taking temporary charge of the side, while fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has reaffirmed his commitment to red-ball cricket as he returns to the domestic first-class arena. Hesson was appointed interim coach for the third Test against England after []

New York, Sep 13: Elena Rybakina came to New York and took everything that had belonged to Aryna Sabalenka. First, it was the No. 1 ranking in womens tennis, then the US Open trophy. The tournament that for so long was a struggle for Rybakina turned into the site of her coronation. Rybakina won her []

NEW YORK, Sep 13: American Christian Harrison and British partner Neal Skupski won their second Grand Slam mens doubles title of the year by defeating Germanys Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-4, 7-6 (6) in the U.S. Open final on Saturday. Harrison and Skupski were playing just their second tournament together when they won the []

Tokyo, Sep 13: Tokyo Paralympic gold medallist Pramod Bhagat secured a gold in mens singles SL3 and silver in mens doubles SL3-SU5, while Sukant Kadam bagged the 100th medal of his career at the Japan Para Badminton International here on Sunday. Pramod, a six-time world champion, produced a dominant performance to defeat fellow Indian U []

New Delhi, Sep 13: Wushu player Divyanshi Choudhary has dialled down her anger against the sports national federation after being dropped from the Asian Games squad due to an injury, saying she has full support of the governing body to make a stronger comeback. Divyanshi was included in the seven-member wushu team for the Aichi-Nagoya []

New Delhi, Sep 13: Indias international para-badminton shuttler Prema Vishwas has issued an emotional public appeal, alleging that her official entry for the upcoming AichiNagoya 2026 Asian Para Games was deliberately delayed, which resulted in its rejection. Taking to social media to seek Prime Minister Narendra Modis immediate intervention, the WH1 category athlete questioned the []

Period pain is often dismissed as a normal part of menstruation, but severe or persistent pain could be a sign of endometriosis, a chronic condition that can affect fertility and significantly impact a womans quality of life, according to doctors. Experts said growing evidence suggests that genetic and epigenetic factors may influence a womans susceptibility []

Humans everywhere use mind-altering substances, from stimulants and narcotics to hallucinogens. Yet surprisingly little is known about how some psychoactive drugs were first discovered and incorporated into daily life. In a study published today, we uncover the prehistoric roots of betel nut chewing. This widespread habit has a long and deep history in the Asia-Pacific []

By H.H. Mohrmen Understanding the theology of the Unitarian Union in Northeast India requires an appreciation of both its Christian heritage and its indigenous context. The church did not emerge in a cultural vacuum. Rather, it developed through the encounter between the global Unitarian tradition and the religious worldviews of the Khasi, Pnar, War, and []

By Shahin Yusuf Indias Northeast is no longer merely a frontier to be secured; it is a strategic space where connectivity, commerce, defence logistics and geopolitics converge. Meghalaya must craft a policy architecture that converts geography into strategic advantage, minerals into technology, community consent into competitive strength and ecological stewardship into industrial resilience. The recent []

The global economic grouping, BRICS, majorly involving Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is significantly helping these nations share their resources for the common good. Formed 20 years ago on the sidelines of a UN meet in New York, it has acquitted itself well and brought 20 more nations into its fold. It involves []

New Delhi, Sep 13: The US Fed interest rate decision, domestic inflation data, crude oil prices and development in West Asia would be the major drivers for stock market movement in a holiday-shortened week ahead, analysts said. Equity markets would remain closed on Monday for Ganesh Chaturthi. Globally, developments in the US-Iran conflict and movement []

Mumbai, Sep 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said Indians should control the entire lab-grown diamond ecosystem and build globally dominant brands, asserting the market for such diamonds could expand 50-fold in terms of volume. India now has the infrastructure, skills, capital and traders to seize the opportunity presented by lab-grown diamonds, he []

New Delhi, Sep 13: Market experts have backed Sebis proposed overhaul of the expiry-day trading framework, saying the changes could address key sources of volatility and manipulation in the closing auction while making the settlement process simpler and more transparent. The comments come after markets regulator Sebi floated a consultation paper on Saturday proposing changes []

New Delhi, Sep 13: Russia imported a record 172,000 tonnes of oil products in August, including gasoline refined from Russian crude at a refinery in India that is partly owned by Russias Rosneft, as Ukrainian drone strikes disrupted Moscows domestic refining capacity, according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean []

By Dr. Chayanika Sarma Suicide rarely begins with a single moment. More often, it emerges from a prolonged struggle with emotional pain, hopelessness, social pressures, personal crises or other vulnerabilities. Yet, too often, that suffering remains hidden behind silence, stigma and the fear of being judged. Suicide is a major public health concern that leaves []

Sujoy Dhar She never burned a bra. That much needs saying at the outset, because for half a century the myth clung to her name harder than most of her actual words ever did. The story goes back to a 1968 protest outside the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, where demonstrators tossed girdles, curlers []

Christina K Sangma Mallow was a small grey cat with bright green eyes, a crooked white whisker, and a rather unusual passion for singing. From the moment she woke each morning, she seemed to have a melody waiting inside her. As the first sunlight slipped through the windows, Mallow would climb onto her favourite []

NEW DELHI, Sep 12: When India take on Afghanistan in the opening T20I of their three-match series on Sunday, the venue may seem familiar, but the designation of the series is anything but straightforward. India are effectively playing an away series in New Delhi, with Afghanistan listed as the home side. The unusual arrangement is []

NEW DELHI, Sep 12: India captain Shreyas Iyer believes the abundance of top-order batting options is a luxury rather than a selection headache ahead of Sundays opening T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. India have several contenders for the top order, including teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. []

NEW DELHI, Sep 12: Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran said his team has worked out plans to counter Jasprit Bumrah ahead of Sundays opening T20I against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, while stressing the need to keep things simple. Bumrah is set to return to international cricket after recovering from a left knee injury suffered []

NEW DELHI, Sep 12: Pakistan great Wasim Akram has questioned the Pakistan Super Leagues ability to produce quality batting talent, contrasting its decade-long history with the Indian Premier Leagues emergence of young stars such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Akram, who has worked in both the IPL and PSL, acknowledged that Pakistans franchise league has helped produce []

BIRMINGHAM, Sep 12: England survived a major scare before beating Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Chasing 130 for victory, England suffered a stunning start as Pakistan reduced them to 2-2 in the opening over. Ben Duckett edged Mohammad Abbas behind for a []

Match starts: 8 pm Dubai, Sep 12: Seven-time champions India will look to Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma to deliver once again when they take on a resilient Sri Lanka in the Womens T20 Asia Cup final here on Sunday. With 168 runs including two fifties, Shafali has not only been Indias best batter but []

New York, Sep 12: Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe had a packed crowd sprinkled with celebrities cheering equally for them, as the two fan favourites fought to reach their first major final. The crowd figures to be almost entirely on Sheltons side on Sunday, because now hes the American hope to end a lengthy Grand []

New York, Sep 12: Taylor Townsend was tight, not moving well and could sense she was off swinging her racket early in the US Open womens doubles final. I wanted this really badly, and I knew that I wanted it, she said. I felt it in my body and my spirit because I was so []

New Delhi, Sep 12: BRICS leaders on Saturday called for a sweeping reform of the global financial architecture to give emerging markets and developing economies a greater voice in the IMF and World Bank, while strongly criticising unilateral tariffs, trade restrictions and economic sanctions. In the New Delhi Declaration, the grouping delivered a pointed warning []

New Delhi, Sep 12: Indias gem and jewellery exports continued positive momentum in the month of August, with gross exports rising 12.52 per cent year-on-year to Rs 21,945.87 crore, a report said on Saturday. The report from the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said the month saw a marked shift toward value added []

New Delhi, Sep 12: Eternal-backed food delivery platform Zomato has begun charging customers an additional fee of Rs 5 to Rs 20 for choosing cash on delivery (COD) as the company seeks to monetise payment methods amid intensifying competition. The pay on delivery fee shown separately on the apps bill summary appears to be levied []

New Delhi, Sep 12: The South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) is contributing approximately 23 per cent of Coal India Limiteds (CIL) output and registered around 17 per cent of Indias total coal production in FY 2025-26, the government said on Saturday. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indias coal sector has undergone a []

New Delhi, Sep 12: India supplied 895 crore litres of ethanol by the end of August under the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 with grain-based feedstocks accounting for nearly 70 per cent of these cumulative supplies, according to data released by the All India Distillers Association (AIDA) on Saturday. According to the data, it is []

Hek says NPP legislators, TMC leaders also in talks SHILLONG, Sep 12: The BJPs political outreach in Meghalaya is widening beyond the reported movement of UDP legislators, with senior party leader and MLA AL Hek confirming that the party is in discussions with sitting NPP legislators as well as leaders from the TMC and other []