The Shillong Times

DUBAI, March 27: Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Iran on Friday, further escalating a conflict that has rapidly expanded across the Middle East. The attacks came even as US President Donald Trump said negotiations to end the war were going very well, though there is little evidence of progress on the ground. []

KABUL, March 27: Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based advocacy group, has strongly condemned Pakistani airstrikes on Kabuls Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, calling them an unlawful attack and warning they could constitute a war crime. The March 16 strike targeted the 2,000-bed facility, killing hundreds of civilians and injuring many others, including patients breaking their []

KATHMANDU, March 27: Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Balen Shah has made history as Nepals youngest democratically elected prime minister at 35. Sworn in on Friday by President Ram Chandra Paudel, Shah leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which won a landslide victory in the March 5 parliamentary elections, securing 182 of 275 seats in the House of []

Jerusalem, March 27: Israels defence minister said on Friday that Israeli attacks on Iran will escalate and expand. Israel Katz made the comment in a statement noting that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Iranian terrorist regime to stop firing missiles at the civilian population in Israel. Despite the warnings, the firing continues []

Actor Taylor Lautner, famous for playing Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga, announced that he and his wife, Taylor Dome Lautner, are expecting their first child. The couple, married in 2022, shared the news on Instagram with photos including a sonogram and affectionate outdoor shots, with Taylor kissing Tays baby bump. Their post humorously referenced []

Actor Ranveer Singh, riding high on the success of his blockbuster Dhurandhar 2, enjoyed a casual outing with wife Deepika Padukone in Mumbai. The couple visited a popular South Indian restaurant in Chowpatty, where they took a cheerful selfie with the restaurant staff. Ranveer, dressed in a black T-shirt, white cap, and sunglasses, posed alongside []

International comedy icon Russell Peters left Shillong in splits on Friday night, as a packed audience at Lariti erupted into waves of laughter during his live performance, organised by Rockski EMG. This event was a part of his Russell Peters Relax World Tour. On stage, Peters drew laughter with his observations on cultural differences within []

Shillong, March 27: Meghalaya demonstrated its potential in another martial art form after being crowned Champions of the Senior National Khelo India ASMITA Pencak Silat League 2025-26, which came to a conclusion at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre on the NEHU campus here on Friday. The two-day event saw the hosts bag 2 []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 27: Even as the state government claims to have sufficient stock of domestic LPG cylinders, consumers across Meghalaya have begun feeling the severe pinch of the shortage, with the state clearly heading towards a full-blown LPG crisis in the coming days. Residents in Shillong and parts of the state reported []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 27: A number of former legislators are likely to join the BJP in May as the party looks to strengthen its base ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. Sources said that former MLAs like Mohendro Rapsang (who recently resigned from the NPP), Jemino Mawthoh (who had been with the UDP), []

From Our Correspondent TURA, March 27: Congress leader and former South Tura MLA John Leslee K. Sangma on Friday asserted that the Meghalaya governments recent gazette notification making a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate mandatory for candidates in Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections is not enough to fully safeguard the political and land rights []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 27: Following in the footsteps of the GHADC, the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) has initiated steps to bring in necessary amendments to the councils rules to make ST certificates mandatory in order to bar non-tribal candidates from contesting MDC elections. As a first step, a delegation of JHADC []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 27: A Special POCSO Court in East Khasi Hills on Friday has sentenced a 70-year-old man to 30 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50,000 for committing repeated sexual assault on his minor daughter. The convict was found guilty under Section 5(1)(n) of the POCSO Act, []

From Our Correspondent JOWAI, March 27: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia & Garo People (FKJGP), West Jaitia Hills unit, on Friday organised a rally and public meeting in Jowai to demand the immediate resolution of the long-standing interstate boundary dispute with Assam. The rally, which saw participation from FKJGP units of West and North Khasi []

From Our Correspondent JOWAI, March 27: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO), Jaintia Hills, has urged the public to stop paying toll fees at the Ialong and Lumshnong toll plazas on National Highway-6. The call follows an inspection of the Jowai-Ratacherra stretch by HITO leaders, including Khiejoit Niang and WN Dkhar. During the inspection, the []

Devotees offer prayer on the occasion of Basanti Durga Puja, in the city on Friday. (ST)

Rymbui assures govt support to young creatives By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 27: The first edition of the Shillong International Film Festival (SIFF), organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), concluded successfully here with vibrant participation from students, filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts representing various colleges and universities across Meghalaya and beyond. The []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 27: The third edition of Culinary Cascade 2026, themed Crafted for All 5 Senses, has emerged as a vibrant platform for entrepreneurs, farmers and artisans to share their stories, showcase innovation and promote their products to a wider audience. The two-day festival, which got under way at Wards Lake here []

New Delhi, March 27: Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shahs cabinet reflects a mix of youth, gender, and personal experience that was finalised after prolonged discussions that had begun even before the final results of the March 5 national election were announced. Many of the cabinet members are new, some even first-time MPs, say reports from []

RI-BHOI (MEGHALAYA), MARCH 27 // The second day of the North East Graduate Congress (NEGC) 2026 at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya was marked by a grand Formal Inaugural Ceremony along with a vibrant cultural rally representing all eight North Eastern states, reflecting the rich diversity and unity of the region. The day []

New Delhi, March 27: Irans plan to establish a safe corridor in the Strait of Hormuz has been met with reluctance from China, even as the country along with Asias major economies facing serious issues amid disruptions in shipping traffic, a new report has said. The report from Turkey-based Anadolu Agency said Chinese vessels largely []

Kabul, March 27: The new academic year in Afghanistan schools began on Thursday without girls returning to classrooms above sixth class for the fifth consecutive year. The classes started amid calls for reopening schools for girls above sixth class, local media reported. The Talibans Education Ministry said that the new academic year started with senior []

KABUL, March 26: A second mass funeral was held in Kabul on Thursday for victims of a Pakistani airstrike that struck the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital on March 16. Bulldozers dug a large pit for 60 coffins, and Afghan officials now report 411 dead and 263 wounded, though the UN is still verifying the toll. []

Nagaland-born Trance Effect opens the evening with a thrilling performance By Our Reporter Shillong witnessed a landmark night for rock music as legendary British band Def Leppard took the stage for their much-awaited performance in the city. Produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow, the bands first show of []

Filmmaker Aditya Dhar dismissed circulating images of Ranveer Singh smoking while wearing a turban in Dhurandhar 2 as fabricated and created with AI. He stressed the film treats the Sikh community with respect and urged audiences to rely on official material. The clarification follows objections from a Sikh organisation. Released on March 19, the film []

Celine Dion is set to make a highly anticipated return to Paris for autumn concerts at the 40,000-capacity La Dfense Arena, two years after her show-stopping performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony. During the ceremony, Dion delivered a heartfelt rendition of Edith Piafs Hymne LAmour from the Eiffel Tower, impressing audiences []

Work ethic, not talent, defines me, says Anne Hathaway Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway says she feels defined by her work ethic rather than talent. The 43-year-old told Harpers Bazaar that while she grew up with certain privileges, her career success wouldnt be handed to her, so she has always focused on giving her maximum effort []

New Delhi, March 26: India came out strongly on Thursday for WTO reforms to be carried out through a transparent, inclusive and member-driven process that keeps the special rights of developing countries at its core in accordance with the foundational principles and objectives of the multilateral organisation. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, in his address at []

Kolkata, March 26: The West Asia crisis has pushed freight costs for Europe-bound cargo up by 60-80 per cent, with exports falling by as much as 50 per cent for some exporters while hundreds of containers got stranded at Kolkata port, industry representatives said on Thursday. Calcutta Customs House Agents Association (CCHAA) president Mannu Choudhary []

BANGKOK, March 26: There was no stopping the dominant run of Indias compound archers as the top-seeded mixed team pair of Rajat Chauhan and Chikitha Taniparthi stormed into the final but the recurve contingent endured disappointment in the Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament Stage 1, here on Thursday. For India, two bronze medals are already []

TANGIER (Morocco), March 26: Indias skeet shooters will have their task cut out as they face a strong line-up of participants on the first day of the season-opening ISSF Shotgun World Cup here on Friday. The event will feature some of the worlds most accomplished athletes competing in a strong field at the Club Tangerois []

RAIPUR, March 26: Medalling at the Asian Games remains the one milestone Mirabai Chanu is desperate to achieve this year, with the Tokyo Olympics silver-winning weightlifter terming it unfinished business in an otherwise illustrious career. For more than a decade, Chanu has been the face of Indian weightlifting. An Asian Games medal is the only []

An elderly person carries an LPG cylinder amid the West Asia crisis in Guwahati on Thursday. (UB)

Our Bureau SHILLONG, March 26: Meghalayas fuel security is walking a tightrope as the state government admitted on Thursday that the surplus buffer for domestic LPG has evaporated, while a central supply cap has slashed commercial gas availability by 20% across the state. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Methodius Dkhar told reporters that while there []

The 2018 amendment was designed to overhaul the entire Assam & Meghalaya (Constitution of District Councils) Rules framework By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 26: KHADC Opposition Leader Titosstarwell Chyne has challenged the Executive Committee (EC) to stop cherry-picking amendments and instead resurrect the comprehensive 2018 reform bill currently gathering dust in the state governments Expert []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 26: The High Court of Meghalaya has quashed the state governments attempt to squeeze liquor retailers, ruling that the state cannot fund its new digital tracking system by unfairly slashing the profit margins of local wine dealers from 20% to 15%. The ruling, delivered by a division bench of Justice []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 26: The State BJP on Thursday demanded that the state government cut short the six-month extension of the GHADC and hold elections within two months. BJP spokesperson and former IPS officer M Kharkrang stated that the root cause of the violence was the attempt by a non-tribal aspirant to file []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 26: In a shift in tactics, individuals involved in the illegal transportation of coal are increasingly using smaller vehicles to evade detection by law enforcement agencies. East Jaintia Hills Police recently intercepted an Alto car carrying nine gunny bags of illegal coal at Damcherra in Kuliang on March 23. Police []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 26: At least four to five BJP leaders in Meghalaya have submitted applications to contest the upcoming Shillong Parliamentary bye-election, necessitated by the recent death of MP Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon. Party sources confirmed that spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang and former president Ernest Mawrie are among those seeking the ticket, alongside []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 26: Shillong witnessed a landmark night for rock music as legendary British band Def Leppard took the stage for their much-awaited performance in the state. Produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live, the bands first show of the India tour unfolded as an electrifying evening that brought together legacy, nostalgia and []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 26: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Thursday launched the Save Khyndailad, Save Our Identity campaign by distributing pamphlets at Khyndai Lad, highlighting concerns over the erosion of the areas cultural and historical significance. In the pamphlets, the HYC described Khyndai Lad as not just a commercial hub but the []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 26: The Khasi Students Union (KSU) on Thursday met Chief Secretary Shakil P. Ahammed to seek intervention on five critical issues, including a strong objection to a recent circular that required school students to sing and record Vande Mataram. A KSU delegation, led by assistant general secretary Reuben Najiar, submitted []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 26: Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) chairman Roy Kupar Synrem on Thursday reiterated that he had not made any remarks against any particular religion, even as he asserted that he stood by his statement that the Hynniewtrep people would stand by the Achik community in Garo Hills. Synrem clarified []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, March 26: Private coaching centres across Meghalaya will now have to mandatorily register with the Education department, following the state governments rollout of a new regulatory framework aimed at tightening oversight of the sector. The requirement comes under the Meghalaya Registration of Private Coaching Centre Rules, 2026, recently notified to bring []

NICOSIA (Cyprus), March 25: The International Chess Federation (FIDE) on Wednesday sought to downplay security concerns surrounding the upcoming Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, insisting that safety measures and contingency plans are in place to deal with extreme scenarios.Cyprus is geographically close to West Asia, which is currently in the middle of a military conflict that []

Tiger Woods of the Jupiter Links Golf Club plays a shot from a bunker on the eighth hole, during final day of TGL golf tournament in Palm Beach Gardens. (PTI)

Bergamo (Italy), March 25: When Fabio Cannavaro raised aloft the golden World Cup trophy inside Berlins Olympic Stadium in 2006, few could have imagined the pain footballs biggest event would inflict on Italy over the next two decades. In 2010, the Azzurri put up a woeful title defence, not even winning a game in an []

New Delhi, March 25: Nepal-born defender Abneet Bharti has joined the Indian senior mens team camp in Kochi ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong, the AIFF said on Wednesday. The development comes a day after Ryan Williams was named in the squad for the same fixture. As things stand, India now []

Kuala Lumpur, March 25: Iranian club Tractor FC is set to travel to Saudi Arabia for a playoff against Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai for a place in the Asian Champions League Elite quarterfinals against Buriram United of Thailand. The Asian Football Confederation held the draw Wednesday to determine the quarterfinal pairings, a day after []

Liverpool, March 25: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah announced that he will leave the English club at the end of the season, marking an earlier-than-planned departure for one of the clubs greatest-ever scorers and footballs biggest names. The 33-year-old Egypt forward, who has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for Liverpool, reached an agreement to quit []