The Shillong Times

PREMIER LEAGUE London, Jan 20: Brighton & Hove Albion salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw against Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium as teenage substitute Charalampos Kostoulas produced a moment of sheer brilliance deep into stoppage time, rescuing a point with a stunning overhead kick that left players, managers and supporters alike in disbelief. With the clock []

London, Jan 20: Bournemouth have completed the signing of Hungary international midfielder Alex Toth from Ferencvaros in a deal worth 10.4 million. The 20-year-old has agreed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Cherries, with the transfer also including potential add-ons of up to 2.6m, while Ferencvaros will retain a 10 per cent sell-on clause. Toth attracted []

Rome, Jan 20: Nico Paz scored a brace but missed a penalty as Como comfortably beat Lazio 3-0 in Serie A to record a third consecutive away win by the same scoreline. The win also puts Como just two points behind fifth-place Juventus, while Lazio is in ninth, with only one win in its last []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Jan 20: A major landmark for football in the North East was reached on Tuesday with the signing of a Deed of Contract between the State Football Associations of the region and Japan-based company Bestserv Inc. for the launch of the Northeast Football League. The agreement was formalised at a signing []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Jan 20: The Meghalaya Athletics Association (MAA) has announced a 12-member contingent to represent the state at the 60th National Cross Country Athletics Championship, scheduled to be held in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on January 24, 2026. The squad comprises six men and six women athletes, most of whom are currently part of []

New Delhi, Jan 20: The 79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy is all set for kick off from Wednesday with Assam hosting it for the seventh time in its chequered history. The land of the Brahmaputra and the white rhinos is leading the path in spreading the game to even the remotest areas. It []

New Delhi, Jan 20: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Tuesday announced the appointment of Costa Ricas Amelia Valverde as the head coach of the Indian senior womens team. Valverde, 39, has joined the Indian camp in Antalya where the Blue Tigresses are preparing for the AFC Womens Asian Cup Australia 2026, scheduled for []

Windhoek, Jan 20: Australias left-handed batter Will Malajczuk smashed the fastest century in the history of the ICC U19 World Cup, off just 51 balls, to steer Australia to a convincing eight-wicket victory over Japan here on Tuesday. Chasing 202, the opener scored half of his teams runs with a stunning 102 from 55 balls []

The average American checks their phone over 140 times a day, clocking an average of 4.5 hours of daily use, with 57% of people admitting theyre addicted to their phone. Tech companies, influencers and other content creators compete for all that attention, which has incentivised the rise of misinformation. Considering this challenging information landscape, strong []

From ancient times until today, an enormous population has been a foundational way for China to project its strength. But anxiety about managing so many mouths has always loomed. China has a population of 600 million people, and we must never forget this fact, Mao Zedong said in 1957, shortly before setting off a calamitous []

Mumbai, Jan 20: Equity benchmark index Sensex on Tuesday plunged over 1,000 points to sink below the 83,000 level due to widespread selloff tracking sluggish global markets amid escalating geopolitical tensions. Besides, continued weakness in the rupee and persistent foreign fund outflows dented investors sentiment, traders said. Extending its previous days decline, the 30-share BSE []

MUMBAI, Jan 20: The rupee depreciated 7 paise to settle at a record low of 90.97 against the US dollar on Tuesday, pressured by strong dollar demand from metal importers, persistent foreign fund outflows and rising geopolitical uncertainties. Weak domestic equities further weighed on the local currency. Forex traders said risk aversion in global markets []

NEW DELHI, Jan 20: Gold prices rallied sharply on Tuesday, breaching the crucial Rs 1.5 lakh-per-10-gram level in the national capital, driven by strong demand in both domestic and international markets, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Gold of 99.9% purity surged by Rs 5,100 to trade at Rs 1,53,200 per 10 grams, inclusive []

SHILLONG: Skulrango class VI-oni class X-ona Meghalaya Cabinet-ni ragatgipa Community Integrated Skill Learning-ko Mongolbar salo, adokni Congress dolba rachakangaha indiba lekka poraniko pilakni gitan namdapatchina sorkariko didiangskaaha. Iani bidingo kobor ratimgipa manderang baksa agangrikengon, poraia dontonggimin pilak chatro chatrirangkon, matric sepiltaina cholko onna gita sorkarini chol onaniko Congress dolni dilgipa Manuel Badwar-ba rachakangaha aro lekka []

TURA: Tura-o donggipa Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC)-ni Members Hostel-o GHADC-o kam kaenggipa mitam manderang aro niamo onggijagipa gipin manderangba, antangtangni nokdangrang baksa dongchakenga ine Tura-ni saksa SB Sangma, GHADC-ni Secretary-na badi kadoangaha. GHADC-ni Secretary-na badi kae sedoatani gitade, mitam manderang, GHADC-ni Members Hostel-o, sakchet ba sak 10-rang ongpile, biap damsaon dongchaktokenga aro ian []

World Cup Beckons But Captain Has Questions to Answer Match starts 7 pm IST Nagpur, Jan 20: Skipper Suryakumar Yadav would want the attacking batter in him to front up and bolster his leadership against New Zealand when the five-match T20I series gets underway here on Wednesday, serving as a final dress rehearsal for Indias []

New Delhi, Jan 20: New Zealand coach Rob Walter said all-rounder Michael Bracewells participation in the five-match T20I series against India is dependent on his recovery from a minor left-calf strain that he sustained during the recent third ODI at Indore. New Zealand defeated India by 41 runs to seal a historic 2-1 ODI series []

Christchurch, Jan 20: New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson said the five-match T20I series against India, beginning on Wednesday, offers a perfect preparation opportunity for his side ahead of next months T20 World Cup. Buoyed with their recent 2-1 ODI series win against India, New Zealand will take on the World Cup co-hosts in the first []

Nagpur, Jan 20: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said he expects Daryl Mitchell to carry his dominant ODI form into the shortest format when the Black Caps take on reigning world champions India in a five-match T20I series starting here on Wednesday. Mitchell was in imperious form during the recent ODIs against India, logging scores []

Dhaka, Jan 20: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has categorically rejected claims that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has set January 21 as a final deadline for Bangladesh to confirm its participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup, reiterating that no such timeline has been formally communicated by the global governing body. Reports earlier suggested []

New Delhi, Jan 20: The BCCI is set to streamline the players central contracts by doing away with the A+ category introduced back in 2018. As per the existing policy, a cricketer in A+ category is paid Rs 7 crore annually, Rs 5 crore in A, Rs 3 crore in B and Rs 1 crore []

Johannesburg, Jan 20: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday announced that they will host India in a five-match T20 International series, beginning at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on April 17 and running until April 27 across Durban, Johannesburg and Benoni. The series will open with two matches at Durbans Kingsmead on April 17 and 19 []

New Delhi, Jan 20: The BCCI has secured a lucrative Rs 270 crore sponsorship deal from Googles AI platform Gemini ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). Geminis rival ChatGPT is one of the sponsors of ongoing Womens Premier League. The deal is for three years and reinforces IPLs global appeal, a BCCI official []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Jan 20: VPP Supremo Ardent M Basaiawmoit on Tuesday said the people have been misled through what he described as a modified version of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), followed by the introduction of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), and now the implementation of the Immigrants & Foreigners []

Our Bureau SHILLONG/JOWAI, Jan 20: An intensifying police crackdown in Jowai forced 18 Bangladeshi nationals out of hiding in the early hours of Tuesday, triggering a chain of vehicle interceptions that exposed a local facilitation network operating along the Dawki route. The arrests have raised unsettling questions about how long the foreigners had been living []

Guwahati, Jan 20: The Dr Bhupen Hazarika Centre for Creativity at The Assam Royal Global University (RGU) today celebrated Silpi Diwas with great enthusiasm through a special programme titled Tore More Alokore Jatra, commemorating the legacy of Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala. The event was held at the Jyoti Mancha auditorium on the occasion of Agarwalas death []

PREMIER LEAGUE London, Jan 19: Aston Villas push to stay in the Premier League title conversation faltered on Sunday evening, as Unai Emerys in-form side suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to a revitalised Everton at Villa Park a result that not only halted an astonishing run of victories at home, but also damaged their []

From Our Correspondent Khliehriat, Jan 19: A new futsal ground aimed at fostering sports engagement across age groups in East Jaintia Hills was inaugurated on Monday at Dkhiah East village. The facility, funded under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) scheme for 202526, was officially opened by Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla. Delivering his address as Chief []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Jan 19: Newly elected Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) president James PK Sangma has declared that building a dedicated cricket stadium in the State will be his administrations top priority, arguing that world-class facilities are essential if Meghalaya is to elevate its standing in Indian cricket and host major matches in the []

From Our Correspondent Jowai, Jan 19: The 2026 edition of the Basketball Tournament, hosted in memory of the late Lily Mary Laloo, was formally inaugurated on Monday by Health & Family Welfare and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla. Organised jointly by Seng Samla CMC IawmusiangKhimusniang and the SYM, the event is being held []

London, Jan 19: The Premier League weekend draws to a close on Monday night with an all-south-coast meeting that could carry weight in the race for European football. Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Bournemouth to the Amex Stadium, with both sides eager to build momentum though the visitors arrive severely depleted. Brighton step into []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Jan 19: A 15-member squad was named on Monday by the Meghalaya Cricket Associations senior womens selection committee for the BCCIs Senior Women One Day Trophy 2025-26 plate group, which will be held next month. The team will be captained by stalwart Debasmita Dutta, with Monica Lyngdoh Phawa as the vice-captain. []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Jan 19: Sohra is set to host one of the regions most eagerly awaited grassroots cricket competitions, as the East Khasi Hills Cricket Association announced the return of the 5th District League T20 Cricket Tournament. The annual event, which showcases emerging cricket talent from across the district, will begin in the []

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is sure Aditya Dhars directorial Dhurandhar 2, scheduled for release in March, will become the largest multi-starrer in the history of cinema. Released in December 2025, Dhurandhar featured Ranveer Singh in the lead role and revolved around covert intelligence operations set against a backdrop of geopolitical and terror events like Kandahar []

Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn and producer Danish Devgn announced their upcoming AI-powered film Bal Tanhaji under their new Lens Vault Studios (LVS). A spiritual successor to the 2020 blockbuster Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, the film aims to reimagine the franchise for audiences across platforms and formats. Ajay described the project as the studios first step []

Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji is set to appear on The Great Indian Kapil Show ahead of her upcoming film Mardaani 3. The trailer of the episode shows Kapil Sharmas iconic couch transforming into a crime scene as Rani enters as Senior Inspector Shivani Shivaji Roy. Her presence instantly shifts the vibe from casual fun to []

Dolphins, whales and seals are highly social animals. Many live in groups, form long-term relationships, and repeatedly interact with the same individuals over years or even decades. Some dolphins have preferred companions, while others move between groups in fluid, ever-changing social networks. These social lives bring many benefits, from cooperative foraging to protection against predators. []

A long-running Swedish study has followed adults for nearly five decades, uncovering when physical decline truly begins. Fitness and strength start slipping around age 35, then worsen gradually with age. The encouraging twist: adults who began exercising later still improved their physical capacity by up to 10 per cent. Its a powerful reminder that staying []

SHILLONG: Niam gri bikotgimin koelarangko sandie manani jaman adokni bangbata koela adamrangon bikotgimin koelarang gimaroroenga ine nikahani gimin East Jaintia Hills ajao niam gri bikotgimin metric ton lak 1.43 koelarangko Coal India Limited (CIL)-ni dongimin depot-rangona salatchina Meghalaya High Court-ni songe ongipa Justice (Retd) BP Katakey-ni committee, District Administration-na geetaniko onataha. Garuda-ni drone-rangchi amsandie mangipa []

SHILLONG: Gital ragatgipa Immigration & Foreigners Act-o Inner Line Permit (ILP) gita dakgipa niamko ragatna sorkari miksongengon, Meghalaya adokna ILP gita dakgipa niamkode nangja ine Tura-ni Congress MP Saleng A Sangma-ba parakataha. ILP gita dakgipa niamni gimin aganengon, nasimang Meghalaya adokni manderangko togina manjawa, ine Sangma aganaha. Adokona niam gri napsrukbaenggipa manderangko champengna gita Meghalaya []

TURA: Adita salrangna skang, West Garo Hills ajani Rajabala jolo donggipa Goalgaon songo, ACHIK dolni membor Dilseng M Sangma-ko sootani bidingo sandirokna gita West Garo Hills ajani Police-rang, Special Investigation Team (SIT)-ko songaha. Iani bidingo uiataniko onatengon, Goalgaon songo ACHIK dolni membor saksako sootanio jak donggipa manderangko sandina, Dadenggre-ni Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) RA Sangma-ni []

WILLIAMNAGAR: Adita salrangna skang, a Hills ajani Rajabala jolo donggipa Goalgaon songo, ACHIK dolni membor Dilseng M Sangma-ko kasaninggija dake soote galanina jegale Sombar salo, East Garo Hills ajani dingtang dingtang dolrang, chongmotan Garo Students Union (GSU) Eastern Zone, Mothers Union, GES, AOSW, APA, FKJGP, Pick-Up Association, AHAM, ACHIK, AIGU, Simsanggre Indigenous Peoples Forum (SIPF), []

Editor, I am writing in response to Mr. Toki Blahs impassioned letter regarding the rumoured dismantling of the English Service Church at Police Bazar. While Mr. Blah begins with a disclaimer that his fears are based on hearsay, history in Shillong has taught us that rumours of demolition are often just the prelude to the []

The editorials here have harped on the illegalities that are allowed to carry on with impunity insofar as coal mining is concerned. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has taken the view that a traditional livelihood activity dating back to 200 years cannot be done away with by a sleight of hand of the National Green Tribunal []

By Melarbor L Thabah MAGA stands for Make America Great Again through policies that will benefit America First and its people from the perceived erstwhile non-beneficial policies. During Trumps first term, there was great fanfare because here comes a man who was not directly connected nor intrinsic to the Washington DC elites. He was an []

Biochar for Greener Meghalaya By Dr Subhash Ashutosh Meghalaya stands at a crucial juncture where the pursuit of organic agriculture, climate resilience, and sustainable rural livelihoods can be meaningfully aligned. Biochara carbon-rich material produced through the pyrolysis of biomass in a low-oxygen environmentoffers a powerful and locally relevant solution to achieve these interconnected goals. With []

Bangladesh Must Decide by Jan 21 or Scotland Take Their Spot New Delhi, Jan 19: Bangladeshs place in the 2026 ICC Mens T20 World Cup remains shrouded in uncertainty, with the sports governing body setting January 21 as the decisive date by which the Bangladesh Cricket Board must confirm whether the national team will take []

Johannesburg, Jan 19: South African allrounder Donovan Ferreira faces an uncertain road to the upcoming T20 World Cup after sustaining a shoulder injury during the SA20. The 24-year-old, representing Joburg Super Kings (JSK) against Pretoria Capitals on Saturday, dived at the cover boundary to stop a potential four off the final ball of the innings. []

New Delhi, Jan 19: India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has decided against taking a break after the recent 50-over loss to New Zealand and will play the next Ranji Trophy game for Punjab against Saurashtra at Rajkot, starting Thursday. Gill, who featured in all three ODIs in the just-concluded series that India lost []

New Delhi, Jan 19: Australian batting great Steve Smith has come to terms with his omission from Australias T20 World Cup preliminary squad, but the veteran is far from done with his international 20-20 ambitions. Although missing out on the squad was a setback, Smith remains determined to represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles []