The Shillong Times

Tokyo, July 19: Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu produced a vintage display of attacking badminton to outclass local favourite Akane Yamaguchi in straight games, clinching her maiden Super 750 title at the Japan Open here on Sunday. The 31-year-old became the first Indian to win the Japan Open, combining relentless attack with tactical discipline and []

Tokyo, July 19: An emotional PV Sindhu said her unwavering self-belief had finally paid off after claiming her biggest title in six years at the Japan Open, vowing to carry the same tempo and composure into next months World Championships, where she will bid for a record sixth medal. Sindhu produced a vintage display of []

Ontario, July 19: Indias brightest young squash talents will begin their quest for global honours when the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships get underway in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, on Monday. With the individual competition scheduled from July 20 to 25, followed by the mens and womens team events from July 26 to 31, India head []

Bastad (Sweden), July 19: Andrey Rublev and Luciano Darderi will be clashing in the final of the Nordea Open ATP 250 series event after both bounced back from second-set setbacks in their respective semifinals on Saturday to set a title showdown between two former champions in Bastad. Top seed Rublev defeated Alejandro Tabilo 6-4, 4-6, []

Chennai, July 19: French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja continued to lead the standings with a half -point advantage over Indias Arjun Erigaisi after all match in Round 4 ended in draws in the fourth edition of the Chennai Grand Masters 2026, Indias most prestigious classical chess tournament, at The Westin Chennai Velachery Hotel, here on Sunday. []

Goa, July 19: UTT Juniors top overall draft pick, Ahona Ray, and one of Indias brightest young talents, Somdev Sengupta, starred as U Mumba TT defeated Dabang Delhi TTC 5-2 to lift their maiden UTT Juniors title on Sunday at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium. Ahona arrived in Goa fresh from adding another []

Bhubaneswar, July 19: In a significant move toward structural modernisation and enhanced transparency in sports administration, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)on Sunday officially amended its constitution. The landmark changes were approved unanimously by the General Body during a Special General Body Meeting convened on July 18, 2026, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The approved amendments []

From goals, tech to hydration breaks Atlanta, July 20: The World Cup final between Spain and defending champion Argentina marks the end of the biggest tournament in the competitions history. At the final whistle in New Jersey on Sunday, a record 104 games will have been played across almost six weeks and three countries. The []

SHILLONG, July 19: The Meghalaya government on Sunday declared a holiday on Monday for all government, government-aided and private schools across the state to enable students to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain, as football fever reached fever pitch across the state ahead of the epic clash. Chief Minister Conrad []

SHILLONG, July 19: Amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Meghalaya and demands for a free and fair list, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has assured that not a single Indian will be left out of the electoral roll. Responding to a query from The Shillong Times during an informal discussion []

KSU, FKJGP to repair damaged stretch of Shillong-Dawki road SHILLONG, July 19: The KSU South Central East Circle, FKJGP Ri-War Mihngi Circle and the Federation of Ri-War Mihngi Local Dorbars have urged the state government and NHIDCL to immediately restore the collapsed Shillong-Dawki National Highway near Laitlyngkot, even as they called on Pynursla MLA and []

SHILLONG, July 19: A 23-year-old man from Muktapur village in West Jaintia Hills has gone missing while travelling in Karnataka, prompting his family and the Meghalaya Police to appeal for public help in tracing him. The missing youth has been identified as Kwis Sumer, son of Hill Sumer of Muktapur. His mother lodged an FIR []

SHILLONG, July 19: Serious concerns have emerged over an alleged syndicate operating at the Umling Toll Plaza on the Guwahati-Shillong National Highway, with claims that certain vehicles are being allowed to bypass regular toll payments through unofficial arrangements, potentially causing significant revenue losses. According to available information, some tourist taxi operators who frequently ply the []

SHILLONG, July 19: Days after cabbage growers in the Smit area were forced to distribute their produce free of cost due to a market glut, farmers in Nongthliew, East Khasi Hills, are now facing a similar crisis, with many left with no option but to dump heaps of radish in their fields after prices crashed []

SHILLONG, July 19: The Meghalaya BJP on Sunday asserted that the constitutional authority of Nokmas over Akhing lands cannot be overridden by administrative agencies or statutory bodies, with party vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak warning that employers and labourers who bypass the traditional institution would face a fine of Rs 10,000. Backing []

SHILLONG, July 19: While Tuberculosis (TB) cases are overall on the decline in Meghalaya, Health and Family Welfare Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Sunday urged state legislators to adopt TB patients and provide financial assistance to support their nutritional needs. Without naming the specific districts where cases still show an upward trend, the health minister highlighted []

A duo performs during the 16th Inter-Shillong Cultural Event 2026, organised by the Rabindranath Tagore Club, Laban, at Laban Bengalee Boys Higher Sec. School, Shillong, on Sunday. The event began with Rabindra Sangeet and folk song competitions, while dance on Tagore song and folk song competitions will be held on July 26 at the same []

Williamnagar: Adita salrang skang district police-ni Williamnagar-o saksa bilsi 17 onggipa mechikko kasaninggija soote galanio mamlao sandie matchotaha ine parakatani jaman Garo Students Union (GSU) Williamnagar zone EGH, police-ni report ongipana suk ongjae, sootani mamlao adita singanirang dongako tale paraka dongja ine aganaha. Williamnagar Women Police Station Case No. 13/2025 under Section 103 []

RESUBELPARA: Garo Hills ni bako namroro-silroroaniko rabana gita adok sorkari, mamong sorkari, aro ANVC, ANVC (B) ni gisepo Tripartite Agreement ko songgigrike soi kaangenba Achik asongko namdap-sildapatna chamatgimin tangka-paisarangchi North Garo Hills ni bako sorkarini chusokatna nanggipa kamrang baditana chusokengahachim, uarangko Tripartite Agreement Review Team- Bernard N. Marak aro songgigrikanio soi kagipa gipin member-rang baksana []

GHADC-ni tangkako watchina molmola SHILLONG: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC)-o kam kaenggiparangni dormahako onanio somoi ruutaniara adokni manderangko togia onga, manderangni beberaaniko aro kadonganiko ongramataha minggipin ian autonomous body-na kurachakaniko chusokatjaengani jajrengani onga ine janape adokni BJP, District Council Affairs Department-ko taraken funds-ko watchina molmolaha. State BJP-ni vice president aro Tura MDC Bernard N. []

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma Sonibar salo Sohiong C&RD Block-o CM Connect Centre-ko oprakaha aro tangka kror 146 damni dingtang dingtang arika choanirangna aro namroroanina pangchakaniko songaha, songadam biaprango manderangna dangdike onaniko kamrangko aro rika choani kamrangko apalbatatna adok sorkari kurachakaha. Programme-ko Mawrap Pyllun Ground-o ongataha, Community and Rural Development Minister Sosthenes Sohtun, Sohiong []

SHILLONG: Chusokgipa candidate-rang banggenchimoba Meghalaya-o National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2026-na porikka segiparang pangna name dakenga indiba adok asongni dalbatsranggipa rabigiparangoni ge-sao nengnikaniko chagrongkuenga. poraina gisiko sikgiparangko tosusa ongode MBBS seat-rang namen komikuenga. National Testing Agency (NTA)-ni parakatani gitade, Meghalaya adokoni NEET UG 2026-o sak 3,425 candidate-rang porikkako seaoni sak 1,658 candidate-rangsan chusokatna manaha, uan

SHILLONG: Sorkari office-rangko toromni gita niamrangko tarie jarikna nangja aro manderangni namgnina kam kagipa biaprangko olakichakram biap dakatna nangja ine AITC Meghalaya president Charles Pyngrope aganaha. Mawdiangdiang-o CBI office campus-ni ningo torom nok rikani bidingo jingjengani bidingo Pyngrope aganangaha, mamong ba adok sorkarini ningo donggipa sorkari office-rang ongja maina gimikan secular institution-rang onga aro uarango []

Shillong, July 18: A 12-member Meghalaya girls basketball team will leave for Thailand on July 20 to compete in the International Youth Basketball Championship (IYBC) 2026, where it will face teams from the United States, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia. The tournament, scheduled from July 24 to 28, will bring together youth teams from several []

Jowai, July 18: The West Jaintia District Sports Association (WJDSA) on Friday felicitated former West Jaintia Hills District Sports Officer (DSO) Khroobok Passah in recognition of his contribution to the development and promotion of sports in the district. Passah is currently serving as the Assistant Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, Meghalaya. Addressing the gathering, []

London, July 18: Former Australia head coach Justin Langer is reportedly the frontrunner to take over as Englands Test coach following Andy Fowlers withdrawal from the race. According to reports, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is set to replace Brendon McCullum in the red-ball role after England endured disappointing Test series defeats to []

Winners of the Pine City Competition 2026 pose for a photograph with the organisers, chief guest Lion Kamal Kumar Jhunjhunwala and chief arbiter Pajat following the prize distribution ceremony. A total of 108 participants competed across the Under-11, Under-16 and Open categories.

New Delhi, July 18: The winner of the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup Qualifier will secure direct entry into the main stage of the World Cup, avoiding the newly introduced Super Series, following the International Cricket Councils (ICC) revamped tournament format. The revised structure, announced earlier this week, gives the Qualifier champion a significant advantage. []

Cast: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron Director: Christopher Nolan Getting home, and turning back the clock, has long been at the root of Christopher Nolans films. The astronauts of Interstellar painstakingly lose 23 years in space travel, almost the same length of time Odysseus is away from home in []

72nd National Film awards Bollywood movie Article 370, based on the events surrounding the abrogation of this section of the Constitution in 2019, was on Saturday named as the best feature film at 72nd National Film Awards. Yami Gautam Dhar, who acted in Article 370 was named the best actress in a leading role while []

Actress Brenda Fricker, who became the first Irish actress to win an Oscar for her role opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in 1989s My Left Foot and impressed viewers as the Pigeon Lady in 1992s Home Alone 2, passed away on Thursday in Dublin at the age of 81, reported Variety. We will never see her like []

Actress Jennifer Winget, who predominantly works in television, has officially tied the knot, and has introduced her husband, William Ishmael. On Saturday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared a video from her wedding ceremony, and confirmed that she has exchanged vows with her husband. In the video, the couple can be seen in []

Islamabad/Karachi, July 18: Pakistan on Saturday extended the closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft until August 23, according to the countrys airports authority. Pakistan and India imposed matching airspace restrictions on each others airlines after the Pahalgam terrorist attack in April 2025. Pakistan airspace not available for Indian-registered aircraft and aircraft operated or leased []

Islamabad, July 18: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) country officials, including India and Pakistan, exchanged information and assessments on the situation along the international borders of the member states. The 12th Meeting of the Heads of Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the SCO member states was held in Islamabad on Friday under the chairmanship []

Dubai, July 18: Iranian authorities said Sunday they have executed a man convicted of killing a member of security forces during the 2022 nationwide protests that erupted after the death of a woman in custody of the countrys morality police. Authorities said the fatal shooting took place during unrest in Tehran, where protesters blocked roads []

Moscow, July 18: Eight people were killed and more than 60 others were wounded in Russia by overnight Ukrainian drone attacks, Russian officials said Saturday. Kyivs forces are continuing their relentless aerial campaign against energy infrastructure and military targets inside Russia, aiming to undermine Moscows war effort and make Russians feel the consequences of the []

Washington, July 18: Activists from the US-based advocacy groups gathered to express solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the examination system, including the NEET. Activists from the Hindus for Human Rights and the Azadi Project gathered at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near []

Washington, July 18: An organised crime syndicate recruited young people from India, promising money, power and opportunities to migrate to countries including the United States and Canada, while allegedly paying some as little as Rs 20,000 ($200) to commit murders, according to a US federal indictment. The 44-page indictment, a copy of which was obtained []

United Nations, July 18: The United Nations human rights agency has voiced concern over the wave of unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling for investigations into killings of protesters as well as members of security forces. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday appealed for calm in PoK amid a wave of []

TMC backs anti-uranium resolution as stakeholders close ranks SHILLONG, July 18: In a rare display of political unanimity, Meghalayas political class and pressure groups have closed ranks to tell New Delhi that uranium mining remains a closed chapter, asserting that no central mandate can override the collective will of indigenous landowners. The All India Trinamool []

SHILLONG, July 18: The state BJP on Saturday said the prolonged non-payment of salaries to employees of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) represents a betrayal of public trust and has cast serious doubts on the effectiveness of the reforms promised for the autonomous body. The party urged the District Council Affairs (DCA) Department []

SHILLONG, July 18: Invoking the legacy of U Tirot Sing Syiem, former KSU leader Donald Thabah has challenged the Meghalaya government to scrap colonial-era restrictions and grant Khasis the right to carry traditional weapons, seeking parity with other communities permitted to bear ceremonial arms. Speaking at the 191st death anniversary of the Khasi freedom fighter []

SHILLONG, July 18: As the state grapples with the legal technicalities of compensation, Nongthymmai MLA Charles Pyngrope has demanded that the government bypass jurisprudence delays and provide immediate financial relief to the families of the Thakuri brothers, who sacrificed their lives in the July 11 Lapalang well tragedy. Sunil Thakuri (34) and Umesh Thakuri (30) []

SHILLONG, July 18: The Meghalaya High Court has demanded a detailed report on 12 senior citizens, some aged up to 80, who remain incarcerated across the states prisons. The court is seeking clarity on why these elderly inmates are still behind bars, the current status of their cases, and whether they are too ill to []

SHILLONG, July 18: Expressing grave concerns over a conflict of interest, the High Court of Meghalaya has stripped the Nongpoh Women Police Station of the investigation into the death of a minor girl who died by suicide after being questioned by police. The court ordered the immediate seizure of CCTV footage to prevent tampering and []

SHILLONG, July 18: In a rare show of political consensus, leaders from the AITC and BJP have demanded a secular administration of government premises in Meghalaya, asserting that public offices must remain zones of service rather than centres of worship. The demand follows a growing controversy over a temple recently constructed inside the CBI office []

SHILLONG, July 18: In a state where they rarely see eye-to-eye on policy, Meghalayas fiercest political rivals have declared a temporary ceasefire, finding common ground in the sky-blue and white of Argentina ahead of the World Cup final. Chief Minister and NPP National President Conrad K Sangma and his most vocal critic, VPP president Ardent []

SHILLONG, July 18: Residents and traders of Laban are set to benefit from improved market infrastructure with the inauguration of a new four-storey municipal market complex at Iewdak. The facility includes a community hall and office space for the DorbarShnong, providing a modern venue for commercial and community activities. The RCC+4 municipal market complex, constructed []

Theft Eddie Erison Kharkongor lodged a complaint that around 4.30 am on July 14, unknown miscreant(s) stole his motorcycle (ML-05V-2936) from his residence at Lower Mawprem Pdengshnong, Shillong. Biden K Sangma lodged a complaint that between July 13 and 14, unknown miscreant(s) stole his motorcycle (ML-05AH-0190) from his residence at Mawlai Nongpdeng, Block-B, Shillong. A []