The Shillong Times News

Cuttack, Dec 9: Hardik Pandya made a memorable comeback to competitive cricket, striking a mood-lifting unbeaten fifty and then took a key wicket as India etched a dominant 101-run win over South Africa in the opening match of the five-match series here on Tuesday. The victory helped India take a 1-0 lead in the rubber []

Sydney, Dec 9: Former Australian pace great Glenn McGrath has delivered a blunt assessment of Englands faltering Ashes campaign, cautioning that the tourists face the prospect of a humiliating series scoreline unless they strike back immediately in the third Test in Adelaide. Australias 2-0 lead, sealed in just six days of cricket, has surpassed even []

Adelaide, Dec 9: Englands Ashes campaign has taken another heavy blow with fast bowler Mark Wood ruled out of the remainder of the tour due to a recurrence of his longstanding knee problem. The 35-year-old will fly home this weekend, ending a comeback that lasted just one Test after eight months on the sidelines. Wood, []

Adelaide, Dec 9: England head coach Brendon McCullum has delivered a blunt message to his struggling side, insisting they must shed any hint of fragility if they are to keep the Ashes series alive. With the tourists trailing 2-0 and facing a must-win third Test in Adelaide, McCullum said England have no chance of turning []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 9: Key stakeholders conglomerated for the Meghalaya Cooperative Conclave at the State Convention Centre, Shillong, marking the grand finale of the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025. According to a statement here, the event, organised by the NABARD Meghalaya Regional Office, was attended by Cooperation Minister, Methodius Dkhar, as the []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 9: The Meghalaya government on Tuesday reiterated that it has acted on every instance of illegal mining brought to its notice, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma stressing that enforcement has been ongoing even as the state transitions from traditional rat-hole mining to scientific methods. Speaking to reporters after a []

Enforcement Directorate conducted searches in five locations in Tura in connection with diversion of Rs 28.66-crore GHADC funds By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 9: The state government on Tuesday chose to steer clear of the escalating storm over the Enforcement Directorates search operations in Garo Hills, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma making it clear []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 9: The state government has set a clear timeline for restructuring the salary of ad hoc and SSA teachers, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announcing on Tuesday that the a structured pay system will be in place before Christmas. The Chief Minister made the statement at the closing ceremony []

The Khyndai Lad area witnessed heavy traffic congestion on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Christmas festival. (ST)

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 9: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday said the survey for the high-speed corridor from Mawlyngkhung (near Shillong) in Meghalaya to Panchgram (near Silchar) in Assam has reached an advanced stage. To expedite the process, the government has directed different line departments to work in unison as there is []

Shillong, Dec 9: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday, while asserting that education has been the top priority of the present government, said the budget in the education sector has witnessed a massive jump in the last few years. Highlighting the governments education initiatives since 2018, Sangma said that education has been a priority []

Paris, Dec 8: A leading international human rights organisation wrote to the United Nations Special Rapporteur, raising alarm over the ban imposed on Bangladeshs Awami League party and the suspension of its registration by the countrys Election Commission. In its complaint to the Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of []

Dhaka, Dec 8: In yet another instance of escalating internal conflict within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), at least ten people were injured after clashes broke out between two factions over the partys nomination for a constituency in Gazipur district, local media reported. The violence erupted on Sunday evening in Kaliakair Upazila between supporters of []

London, Dec 8: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Monday as European leaders sought to strengthen Kyivs position in difficult negotiations over a US-backed peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelenskyy said his meetings in London and later []

BANGKOK, Dec 8: Thailand launched airstrikes along the disputed border with Cambodia on Monday as both sides accused the other of breaking a ceasefire that halted fighting earlier this year. Longstanding border disputes erupted into five days of combat in July that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians. US President Donald Trump pushed the Southeast []

BANGKOK, Dec 8: A Myanmar military airstrike on a tea shop in Mayakan village, Tabayin township, Sagaing region, on December 5 killed at least 18 civilians and wounded 20, according to local residents and independent media. The victims, including a five-year-old child and two schoolteachers, were gathered to watch a televised MyanmarPhilippines football match. Two []

KATHMANDU, Dec 8: Nepals interim government on Monday directed all district administration offices to display the names of 45 individuals, declared as martyrs, who died during the Gen Z protests in September that led to the fall of the K P Sharma Oli-led government. The decision to this effect was taken at a cabinet meeting, []

Dharmendras children Sunny Deol and Esha Deol, wife Hema Malini and industry colleagues like Sharmila Tagore and Saira Banu on Monday remembered the Bollywood star on what would have been his 90th birthday. Dharmendra died on November 24 after brief illness and the family quietly marked the day by sharing their memories with the Hindi []

Bollywood actor Nitanshi Goel poses for pictures during the Lifestyle Asia Awards 2025, in Mumbai on Sunday. (PTI)

When people think of gym goers using steroids, the picture that comes to mind is often of a man pumping iron, like Arnold Schwarzenegger, or modern day shirtless masculinity influencers like the Liver King. But the image is changing. Women now represent a growing share of people who use steroids. And so harm minimisation efforts, []

SHILLONG: Kam kasoenggipa pilak skigiparangan Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)-ko pass katelna nanggen ine rai onaniko rapilchina gita adokni Law department, Supreme Court (SC)-ko molmolna pilak cholrangkon sandienga. Law department-oni kobor ontimgiparangni uiatani gitade, skigiparang TET pass katelna nanga ine rai onaniko adok sorkariba rapilchina nangnikenga aro iani bidingo kachari, rebaenggipa January jao hearing-ko daktaina sienga. []

SHILLONG: New Shillong Township (NST)-ni Mawdiangdiang-o rikenggipa gital Meghalaya Legislative Assembly nokko matchotna radodaptaiani dongjawaha aro ia gital Assembly nokko, rebaenggipa 2026 bilsini June jaon matchottelgnok ine Sombar salo, Assembly-ni Speaker Thomas A Sangma parakataha. Assembly nok rikaniko nipilna gita Sombar salo tomaniko ongatani jaman iako Sangma, kobor ratimgiparangna parakataha. Ia tomanio Speaker baksana adokni []

BAGHMARA: Reanggipa December 5 tarikoni 8 tarikona, South Garo Hills Bharat Scouts & Guides (BS&G)-ni Winter Camp-ko Baghmara-ni Simsang chisamo ongatangaha. Ia winter camp-ko ongatanio, South Garo Hills ajani dingtang dingtang skulrangoni gimik sak 138 Scout aro Guide-rang bak raangtokaha. Ia winter camp-o South Garo Hills ajani scout aro guide-rang, changa-sapanirangko skie raan baksa namgipa []

Headmaster-ko chugimik kam ragalchina songni manderang dabia BAGHMARA: South Garo Hills ajao, Mon Rongsna Government Lower Primary (LP) skulni headmaster Headring M Marak, 2015 bilsionin skul rechipgija dormaha oke chaaha ine songni manderang matnangatenba, ia headmaster-ko chugimik kam ragalsrangchina sorkariko didiataha. Iani bidingo songni manderangni pal, social activist Greneth M Sangma, South Garo Hills ajani []

SHILLONG: Rebaenggipa 2026 bilsini abachengachibara ongatna sienggipa Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) election-na Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ni tikitko skatang onjawa indiba Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidate-rangnasan onaigen ine BJP-ni state vice president aro Tura-ni MDC Bernard N Marak parakataha. Marak-ni parakatani gitade, GHADC election-ko rebaenggipa bilsini April jao ongatnaba gnang ine kadongsoenga aro ia election-na []

TURA: HQ 101 Area, Assam Regiment Centre aro Sainik Welfare Directorate, Tikrikilla, Garobadha, Tura aro Ampati-ni Ex-Servicemen Association-rangni dakchakanichi, Sombar saloni abachenge salgnina Ex-Servicemen Rally-ko Tura Dakkopgre-o donggipa SMELC-o ongatenga. Ia Ex-Servicemen Rally-ko abachengatanio, General Administration Department-ni Minister Sosthenes Sohtun, mongsonggipa sokgipa onge bak raangaha aro unbaksana GOC 101 Area-ni SM, Lt Gen Mohit Wadhwa-ba []

Editor, As I reconnect with Shillong and resume living here, I increasingly feel that goods are produced and services rendered not because businesses must compete for customers, but because the public has few alternatives and is forced to accept whatever is offered. It is in this context that I wish to recount a few personal []

The Meghalaya Government may be making tall claims in many areas of so-called development but when it comes to enforcing the rule of law the state fares miserably. For once the BJP has made the right noises and called out the continued violation of the National Green Tribunal ban on coal mining since 2014. That []

By H. Srikanth & Airpeace Rani When Prof. P.S. Shukla, the Vice-Chancellor of NEHU, notified the launching of the Four-Year Undergraduate Program (FYUP) in UG colleges in 2023, Meghalaya College Teachers Association (MCTA) spearheaded a movement against the enforcement of the FYUP in the state without the approval of the NEHU Academic Council. MCTA was []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Dec 8: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday announced that Package 1 of the ShillongDawki road project the four-lane stretch from Rilbong to Baniun in Mylliem will be fully completed by the end of December 2025. He said the executing agency has reaffirmed its commitment to the month-end []

Doha, Dec 8: Zorawar Singh Sandhu finished seventh in the mens trap final with seven hits in first 10 targets, as India concluded an impressive campaign at the ISSF World Cup Final with six medals, including two gold, here Monday. World Championship bronze medallist Zorawar was the only Indian representative on the concluding shotgun day []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 8: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday declared that Guwahati is poised to emerge as a major global concert destination, rivaling Shillong, thanks to the surging popularity of international acts like Post Malones headline show. Speaking to reporters amid the buzz surrounding the Grammy-nominated artists first solo India []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 8: The Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA) has expressed optimism that cement companies operating in the state will comply with the state governments fresh notification revising transportation rates for cement and clinkerfrom the existing Rs 7 per metric ton per km to Rs 9 per metric ton []

From Our Correspondent JOWAI, Dec 8: The Jaintia National Council (JNC) has been assured by Health Minister, Wailadmiki Shylla, and Mission Director of National Health Mission (NHM) Meghalaya, R. Chitturi, that the concerns raised regarding the welfare of long-serving contractual NHM staff will be taken up with priority. In a meeting with the NHM Mission []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 8: Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) working president Thomas Passah has informed that the Secretary of the Secretariat Administration Department (SAD) has summoned party leaders for a clarification hearing regarding an RTI application filed by the party. Passah told reporters on Monday that the RTI application sought the complete []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 8: Saitsohpen, the sleepy undulating locality of Sohra, came alive on Saturday last as it received an outdoor gym, gifted jointly by the Rotary Club of Shillong and Polo Orchid at a cost of Rs 5 lakh. The colourful gym equipment, numbering nine pieces in all, is a value addition []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 8: The Seng Kur Warjri will hold its 27th General Council Meeting at Seijiong village in New Shillong Township on December 12, during which issues concerning the clans challenges and future prospects will be discussed. Speaking to reporters, Seng Kur Warjri vice president Raphael Warjri said the Seijiong unit, comprising []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 8: Amid growing concerns over individuals illegally posing as lawyers, the District Council Courts Bar Association (DCCBA) has issued a strong warning to the public after several cases emerged of impostors offering legal services, including filing affidavits, through cyber cafs and one-stop centres. These individuals have allegedly been advertising their []

Guwahati, Dec 8: Showcasing the growing leadership of indigenous Karbi women in conservation, Joshna Terangpi Project Officer at leading biodiversity conservation organsation Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) and an indigenous Karbi woman actively participated in an international workshop organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The workshop, held at the Felix []

Guwahati, Dec 8: A free medical camp focusing on diabetes, blood pressure as well as eye examinations was organised on December 7 at Balikuchi Primary School in Balikuchi in Darrang district of Assam to raise community awareness on common life-style diseases and provide care to the camp participants. The camp was organised by the []

Dhaka, Dec 7: Bangladeshs mobile phone traders and students held a protest here on Sunday, causing traffic congestion in several parts of the capital, including the Science Laboratory, Shahbagh, Agargaon and outside the Education Building, local media reported. Mobile phone traders held a sit-in in front of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) building in []

Islamabad, Dec 7: Pakistan on Sunday criticised External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars remarks against its military, saying its institutions, including armed forces, are a pillar of national security. Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, Jaishankar said much of Indias problem emanates from Pakistans military and even referred to its []

Kathmandu, Dec 7: A senior Indian government official arrived here on Sunday to review Nepals election preparations and assess progress in India-funded development projects, officials said. Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, will hold a series of high-level meetings during his four-day visit. He is expected to call on Prime Minister []

Music composer Palash Muchhal has issued a public statement, and has shared that his wedding with Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has been called off. On Sunday, he took to the Stories section of his Instagram, and shared a long note saying that he would like to take a step back. He wrote, I have decided []

President Donald Trump presents Sylvester Stallone with his Kennedy Center Honors medal in the Oval Office of the White House, on Saturday. (PTI)

Actor Sonu Sood urged people to be responsible citizens and to control their frustration following the massive operational crisis with IndiGo flights, which left many stranded at the airport for hours without any confirmation. The operational crisis at the airline stemmed from its failure to adapt to new, stricter pilot duty and rest rules (FDTL), []

Actor Anil Kapoor celebrated 14 years since his Hollywood breakthrough with Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. Taking to Instagram, Kapoor reflected on his experience, highlighting not just the films global success but the bonds he formed with the cast and crew. He described the journey as filled with laughter, []

New Delhi, Dec 7: The US Feds interest rate decision will be the major factor dictating trends in the domestic equity market this week, with global movements and foreign investor activity also influencing sentiment, according to analysts. Stock markets ended the last week on a subdued note, with benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closing flat. []

New Delhi, Dec 7: The governments recent decision to cut GST rates on a range of farm-related products is expected to reduce costs for small and marginal farmers and help them adopt better agricultural practices, Fertiliser Minister J P Nadda has told Parliament. Nadda said the GST on micronutrient fertilisers was reduced from 12 per []

New Delhi, Dec 7: The visiting European Union (EU) team will hold discussions with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday on the progress of negotiations on the proposed free trade agreement, an official said. The meeting is important as both sides are eager to conclude the negotiations as early as possible. The team, []